You’ve heard that purpose in life is often found in something that is “bigger than life” or “bigger than oneself.” There’s a longing for most people to be involved with a mission or project that reaches beyond themselves, or something that they can integrate themselves into that ties them into a great movement.
Sometimes purpose is linked to the size of an organization, it may broaden one’s reach, or the amount of personal influence one may have across a community. Purpose can be associated with the amount of personal danger one must endure to achieve success.
It could be how we view our responsibilities in our small corner of the world, like how you maintain relations with your friends and family, how you mentor, lead, and become responsible for those around you at work.
In short, there are a number of ways people manage to build that connection with something “larger” or beyond themselves. Whatever our chosen endeavor, hope for the future and purpose can be driven from in an area that we feel an affinity or passion for.
I would suggest that the core reason each of us have a desire to belong to something larger than ourselves is because we are created by God and made in His image.
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27
However, we are endowed with only an imperfect and limited ability to perceive reality and to experience as the famous passage from 1 Corinthians suggests:
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known – 1 Corinthians 13:12
It is often the case that we rarely find true fulfillment in any of our pursuits. There may be for a time but eventually we search for something extra to fill that longing. Then while we’re in the gaps, we can fall into a state of depression or anxiety, often aware of the finite nature of our earthly life.
Serving in the military seems tailor made for many in their first half of life or first portion of their professional careers, but then a person’s development and the mission of an organization like the Navy, where I served on active duty for 6 years, can diverge in many ways.
As people get married and have children, or take on managerial or even CEO roles puts an entirely different spin on one’s reality and the life-landscape gets more complex.
The spiritual side, although acknowledged, is often ignored. A gigantic part of the iceberg that resides beneath what we can easily comprehend.
Life as a born-again believer in Christ through God’s grace is different. A big difference is, there is a sense of peace that comes from God no matter what the circumstances. It’s often the case when things get worse, the unfathomable peace, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) gets stronger.
A key consideration is God’s position in relation to creation. He is not a product of nature, nature is a product of God. Before time and space, there was God in His significant and complex form. The best way we as humans with our limited ability to understand things, is we can read how God is presented through Scripture as The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. He is a God who understands the reality and critical importance of relationship, because relationship is an integral part of who God is. Having been formed in the image of God offers is an innate motive force driving our search for meaning and purpose in life, whether it be through relationships with people or with that which we can create.
Another ability that is important is God how provided us free-will. It’s a double edge sword, but necessary for a true expression of Love. Without freedom to choose, there is no love. However, we can also choose poorly which, I’m sure we all agree, we have all made some really poor choices in life. Yes, we’ve made good ones also, but we have the propensity to go both ways in our freedom.
The other distinct advantage of God, is the limitlessness of God. The challenge of becoming a Christian offers limitless opportunities to be obedient to the will of God. Always building upon previous experiences and building of knowledge through the learning that occurs as a result of pursuing God’s relationship, leaning from mistakes and becoming more “sanctified” in the process. Through the entire process, being born-again offers the hope that no others have, and that is hope in this life and beyond this life. Christians have a real eternal hope.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. – Titus 3:4-7
Holy, righteous, just, merciful and kind as He is, It’s really hard to just adopt God at His word as expressed through the Bible unless we can grasp the real purpose of God’s revealing Himself through the Bible. I do not think that anyone can really “click” with the Bible truths until they come to Christ, which involves revelation of the damning nature of sin, seeing it for what it is, and how it leads to repentance.
By first understanding their exigent need for a savior and making the decision to God’s gift of Grace, in the form of the Gospel, the belief in “…the “free” gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23b.
What has been provided by “free” for us through God’s kindness, mercy and grace, has been paid for with an enormous price through the Son of God (Jesus Christ). He could pay because He had no sin of His own. He is righteous because He is the very nature of God. Jesus makes possible our Way to salvation by having taken upon Himself the sin of the world, which includes yours and mine. He suffered and died for us on the cross, taking our sin upon Himself.
And then He defeated death and was Resurrected after 3 days. He is the First Born from the dead and “is the head of the body, the church.” Colossians 1:18
There is no work, there is no righteousness that any of us has or can achieve before God. He imputes His Son’s righteousness upon those who believe in Him, Jesus Christ the Lord.
A few passages related to Purpose
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose – Romans 8:28
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known[c] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. – Ephesians 1:7-10
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. – Ephesians 6:21-22
16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. – Hebrew 6:16-18
In knowing God’s purposes, including His purposes for your life, will you best understand the question of purpose.
For a detailed explanation of who Jesus Christ is from the Bible’s perspective go to the video in this website , “Who is Jesus Christ?”
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
CKY
P.S. Typos and all, I do not use AI.
Sunset photo in Hawaii (Maui) is from my personal stock.
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