Purpose for Life

Most all of us from time to time have pondered and questioned the purpose for which we were created. ‘What am I really here for?’ When we are children we are asked what we want to be when we grow up and in our childlike minds we picture ourselves in various common roles. While the job market for a princess or cowboy may not be what it used to be, the act of thinking about what we want to do or become is now implanted in our minds.

From pondering what we want to be when we grow up to questioning why we even exist is not a big leap. I believe it is a fundamental quest to understand the purpose God had in mind for us when He ‘knitted’ our parts together inside our respective mother’s wombs. It is a deep seeded quest for knowledge and understanding on a spiritual level. When the spiritual aspect is left out in the seeking, the answer may elude us all our days. The Potter sculpts a vessel by hand with intent in mind, thus the shape takes form to fulfill the intended purpose. He is the Potter; we are the clay.

To know our genuine purpose, we must seek the Father and His Will for our lives. His purpose for us will bring a greater sense of direction and motivation. His purpose brings strength when we feel weak in our efforts. His guidance makes clear our path and focus. This does not guarantee smooth sailing and a roadblock free journey but it does guarantee His hand is own our back as we make that journey.

Consider with me the road Jesus had to travel to fulfill His purpose. It is obvious He knew His purpose when at the early age of twelve He was sitting in the Temple with the scholars blowing their collective minds with His insights and comprehension of the scriptures. His purpose was the reason He walked the earth in the first place. He was to become sin, the physical representation of all our sin, to endure a cruel and violent physical death and what must have been a horrifying separation from the Father to make our path to the Father clear and straight. Jesus is the path, the only path back to the Father that created us; back to the Father that wove His purpose for us in the very fibers that gave us form. Is it important, then, to seek and work to fulfill our God given purpose? You bet it is! It was important enough for Jesus to suffer humiliation and abuse. He fulfilled His purpose to bring us to a place where we even had a chance of being restored to the Father.

This weekend we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. His purpose on earth fulfilled, He moved from being our sin to becoming our advocate with the Father. His God given purpose to reign continues. King of kings, Lord of lords, Jesus walked this earth just as you and I. His purpose: to be a living sacrifice for us. As we worship and praise Him this Easter, giving thanks for the purpose which He came, ask for direction in finding the purpose for which you were sent. How better to honor His purpose than in walking out our own in serving with thanksgiving?