Your One & Only Life #3: Purpose Is Vital

A survey asked adults, “What would you ask God if you could get a direct and immediate answer?”1 By a two to one margin, the top response was “What’s my purpose here?” It’s a question that has captured the minds of philosophers, the hearts of poets, and the music of songwriters throughout the centuries.

At your creation God gave you a deep desire to know your purpose. Intuitively, you sense that He has put you on earth for a reason. There’s something you are supposed to do, some assignment you are meant to complete. You know in your soul that God created you for a purpose that is unique to you.

You are right. God promises, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”2 God has a plan for your life – a good plan – a plan that only you can fulfill.

The New Testament echoes this promise. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”3 God has work for you to do that He determined before you were born. He will provide everything you need to accomplish the work has assigns you to do.

Having a purpose is a vital part of life; in fact, it often keeps people alive under very difficult circumstances. During the Vietnam War American prisoners-of-war endured extreme deprivation and brutal torture. They discovered that the only way to survive was to focus on a purpose larger than their own lives. Many thought about their families; some focused on their relationship with God; and others considered how they would live differently once they were released from prison. Whatever their strategy, having a purpose gave them a reason to live and a hope for the future.

On the other hand, a life without purpose is no life at all. People without purpose may appear to be alive on the outside, but inside they’re already dead. Under Russian dictator Josef Stalin convicted felons and political prisoners were sentenced to a life of hard labor in Siberia. Their daily work consisted of digging holes in the frozen ground. At the end of the day the guards ordered the prisoners to refill the holes. The next day the guards again had them dig holes and then refill them. The inmates did the same thing day after day. It didn’t take long before they lost their will to live and died off. There was no meaning to their work and no purpose to their lives.

In his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People Harold Kushner captures our God-given desire for purpose.

“Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth, or power. Those rewards create almost as many problems as they solve. Our souls are hungry for meaning … I am convinced that it is not the fear of death, of our lives ending, that haunts our sleep so much as the fear that our lives will not have mattered, that as far as the world is concerned, we might as well have never lived.”4

Bob and Marie, now in their eighties, have lived a life well-lived. Over 10 years ago they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows before family and friends. After the ceremony, the guests were invited to say a few words. Some mentioned how Bob and Marie had faithfully served the Lord for many years. A few people were marked by their love and devotion for one another. Others thanked the couple for helping them build better marriages by walking with them through difficult times. People laughed, people cried, and the Lord was honored by two lives so well lived.

Together Bob and Marie share a common purpose born out of the scars of their own marriage. They are investing their time, talents, and treasure in teaching couples what God has taught them – how to love one another unconditionally. By focusing their lives on helping others, Bob and Marie are making a significant difference; moreover, they are experiencing a greater sense of fulfillment and fruitfulness themselves.

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ENDNOTES

1. JET Magazine, June 21, 1999 (pages 20-22). Survey was conducted by the Yankelovich Partners

2. Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

3. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

4. Harold Kushner (emphasis added)

This blog post © 2013 Designed to Serve®

An excerpt from the upcoming book Your One and Only Life, © 2013 Steven A. Lake. All Rights Reserved. May not be reprinted, reposted, photocopied, distributed or sold without the expressed written consent of the author.

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