One of the greatest gifts that come from living in faith is a renewed sense of purpose. While the world’s view of purpose can be in a range from enjoying myself, being a good person, being a success, having a family, being great at a sport or in the arts…a Christian finds themself with a whole new plan for their life. This is to be a new, abundant life of purpose and meaning.
Some scriptures that speak to this are:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. Jeremiah 32:19
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16)
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9)
There are many more that could be quoted here, but the idea is adequately expressed. When we come to Christ by faith, we are made a new creature. All the old has passed away and all has become new. We now live to fulfill GOD’s purposes in our lives instead of just living for ourselves. We are quickly empowered by His spirit to live for God and others before ourselves.
The hardest thing to get over in our lives is ourselves. Our nature is to be focused on our wants, needs, and desires. Our new selves become filled with God’s spirit which gives us the ability to fulfill HIS purpose. His will becomes OUR will.
The greatest relief for many of us believers when we allow Christ to change us is that our perspectives and values change. Our purpose becomes knowing and pleasing God, loving him as we love others as ourselves. What greater purpose can there be? What better way is there to set ourselves apart and be different from the majority around us?
How can we be filled with joy in the midst of pain and sorrow? How can we be at peace in the middle of a conflict? How do we attain self-control when others attack us or treat us unfairly? In ourselves, we can do very little, but Paul told the Galatians when they were new Christians, “I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
This is obviously a mysterious principle for people who are trying to reason and know everything clearly before they come to faith. It isn’t until we take that leap of faith everyone talks about that the lights go on in our minds and hearts. When the spirit of Christ indwells us, everything changes little by little and sometimes very quickly. Our purpose changes to knowing God and His plan for our lives instead of just floating along in our own self-made fantasy lives. Our purpose becomes centered around love and living fully until the promise of eternal life has arrived. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”. Based on that, we can’t lose. We rejoice to live in the spirit of Christ, and to die is to be present with Him.
With this all enthralling purpose in living, we cast off the cares and concerns of this world. Sure, we still live, eat, and work like others around us, but our sense of purpose and mission is totally different now that God’s spirit has injected us with the power to live according to His purpose.
Even if we don’t understand every aspect of what God is going to do with and through us, by faith we can trust that He will never leave us or forsake us. Even if we are the last believer standing at some point in time and space, we will know Him and be full of peace even in the middle of our aloneness. He will never leave us or forsake us as long as we seek Him and HIS purpose for our lives.
This is the road less traveled…and the fulfillment of our purpose in this world and for eternity.