Occasionally, I receive from a dear sister one of her calendar devotionals that she reads each day. This one had to do with our purpose in life: “To know and love God, and everything else will fall into place if I make this my priority.”
How fitting and timely these often are for us. Seeing the need always to work on me, I pray this will help us all develop into the type of people that God wants us to be.
Finding real purpose in life begins at the source: God and His Word.
While there are many psychologists and philosophers proclaiming through “self-helps” and “espoused doctrines” how to find purpose in life, the source of all life is God; therefore, it is imperative that we begin with Him. John, the apostle, wrote of how we should view God and explains why we were created: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
In most all philosophies and doctrines taught throughout history, there was a goal to reach such as self-worth, knowledge, etc., but we are reminded by the wise man, Solomon, that “in the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death” (Proverbs 12:28). Solomon thus reminds us that there is a path to be chosen, and that will also determine our eternal destiny. So, as sure as I need to realize my purpose in life, the choice I make will determine where I will spend eternity. My eternal purpose in life is very important to consider!
The Psalmist wrote:
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Psalm 1:1-6, ESV).
If we truly want to find our purpose, we must acknowledge that God has “a way” of life that is pleasing to Him. As John wrote, “for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Therefore, we must consider that God’s way is “the” way, and it is a “better” way. Consider what Isaiah wrote from God: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways may ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9, KJV).
If our purpose is to bring honor, glory, and power according to John, then the way to do it will bring about blessings and prosperity according to the Psalmist. We honor Him when we obey (Hebrews 5:8-9). We glorify Him in the church (Ephesians 3:20-21). We are to submit to his power (authority) who is Christ, the head of the church (Ephesians 1:21-22).
