Mark Twain, the late American author, humourist, and lecturer once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why“. Finding out why, speaks about knowing your purpose and living a life of purpose.
As believers, we know that God the Creator has a purpose and a meaning behind everything He has created. The purpose behind some of his creations are obvious, such as the bees making sweet honey to be enjoyed; while others are a bit obscured, such as the meaning behind a mosquito’s existence!
In Genesis 1:27-28, we are told that God created humans (male and female) in His image and gave them dominion over His creation. Having dominion conveys the notion of responsibility, duty, and purpose. We are also reminded that there is a purpose to our lives, when God said to Jeremiah (and to us) that, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
If God appointed Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations before he was born, then we know that for every life on earth, there is a purpose behind it.
In the Gospel of Luke, after Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, it was said that they brought to him all who were sick and afflicted by demons, and he healed them all. The next day, the crowd came looking for him, and it was said that they “would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose”” (Luke 4:43).
Jesus knew his mission and purpose on earth, and part of it was to preach the Gospel. Jesus pursued this purpose with such focus and passion, that he was not distracted in any way from fulfilling it.
Living a life of purpose gives you focus in life. It helps you to cut out the distractions and make good use of your time. It helps you to learn when to say no to things that aren’t perhaps in line with your purpose and calling. It gives you the motivation to wake up and face each day with optimism, knowing that your labour is not only for man, but a fulfilment of a God given purpose. This also gives you the confidence to know that “…he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…” Philippians 1:6.
So, have you found that purpose yet?
Well, for many of us, that purpose is hidden with Christ and in God (Colossians 3:3). Sometimes our purpose is only realised after we have journeyed with the Lord in faith through some difficult seasons in life. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, encouraged believers to trust the Lord in the process of seeking their purpose, when he said, “God changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand into pearls and coal into diamonds using time and pressure. He’s working on you too”.
It is my prayer that if you are perhaps struggling to find meaning and purpose to your life, that as you journey with the Lord in his light, your purpose will be revealed to spur you on to live a fruitful and fulfilled life to the Lord’s glory.
Be encouraged!
Blessings,
Chris Eke
