Background:

Do you have an ultimate purpose for your life? Are you driven to rise to the top of the corporate world? Do you want to accumulate vast wealth? Do you want to be a great political leader? Is great fame your goal? Are you still chasing that teenage dream of becoming a famous sports star? Do you simply long for an everyday happy life in the midst of a loving family? Perhaps you lack a specific purpose for your life and don’t know how or where to find it. I have good news for you! I know of a foolproof method for finding your purpose. Read on!

God is the author and Creator of All life. God has a purpose for every one of His creations. God created you and He has a specific purpose for you. There is a rather simple way to find it. God wrote His guidebook for man long before you were born. He recorded His words through chosen men in His Holy book, the Bible. Here are some of God’s words on the subject.

Scripture: (all ESV unless otherwise noted)

Jeremiah 1:4-10 – 4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “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.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” 9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Genesis 1:28 – And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 – 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Psalm 17:15 – 15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

1 John 3:2 – Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Philippians 3:9-10 – 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Acts 20:24 – 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Discussion:

I started thinking about this topic when I read my daily devotion for January 23, 2013 in Open Windows.. The title of the devotion that day was “Formed for God’s Purposes” and was based on Jeremiah 1:5. The writer of the devotion was Marvin Owen, a former editor at Lifeway and senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Florence, Oregon. In his devotion Owen said “the purpose of every Christian is to Glorify God … It is no accident that we are who we are and that we were born into the families we have. God knew all about us in advance, because He designed us according to His plan.” Owen went on to say of Jeremiah that he “fulfilled his responsibilities even though his mission was difficult, discouraging, and dangerous. The nation of Judah had turned to idolatry, and God called him to prophesy of judgment that loomed close on the horizon. But Jeremiah also brought a word of God’s restoration and hope.” He closed by saying “we can’t choose some of the circumstances of our lives, but we can choose to live victoriously in the knowledge that God created us for His divine purpose.”

Michealangelo’s Jeremiah – Sistene Chapel Ceiling

Indeed, God had a plan and purpose for Jeremiah before he was formed in the womb. And even before God knitted you together He had a plan and purpose for you. Each and every one of His creations has a special purpose and it is much more than just to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28).” So, how did Jeremiah find God’s purpose for his life? And how can you find the purpose for your life? Let’s examine some other scriptures.

First and foremost, you will never find and accomplish God’s purpose for you without knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Man is sinful. We cannot pay the price for our own sins. Only God can do that. If you are not yet a Christian, follow this link to learn how to Become A Christian. Thus, God wants each of us to know Him personally and forgive us of our sins through Jesus.

The Bible provides numerous examples of faithful men who searched for and lived out God’s will for their lives. One of those men is Solomon, considered to be the wisest man ever to live. Solomon spoke of the futility of life when it is lived only for the purposes of this world. In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Solomon says “(this is) the end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” In other words, part of our purpose in life is to fear God and obey His commandments, honoring Him in both our thoughts and actions while here on earth.

Another part of our purpose is to realize that full satisfaction of our purpose will not come until we are ultimately with the Lord. We are to see life on this earth in that perspective. David looked for his satisfaction in the time to come. In Psalm 17:15 David said “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” Here David is speaking of awakening in the next life and enjoying fellowship with God. Created in His image, we will fellowship with Him and be like Him (1 John 3:2). So another part of our purpose is to have a relationship and fellowship with Him and to be like Him, both here on earth and throughout eternity in Heaven. To do otherwise means that life has no real purpose.

In the New Testament Paul compares his impressive religious accomplishments as a Pharisee before He met Christ to a pile of dung. After giving his life to the Savior Paul speaks of His life as one of excellence in Christ. In Philippians 3:9-10, Paul says that he desires only to know Christ, possess His righteousness, and live by faith in Him even if it means suffering and death. Paul devoted the rest of his earthly work (Acts 20:24) to spreading God’s gospel of forgiveness through Jesus Christ to the gentile world. Another part of our purpose should be the same as that of Paul … to know Christ, possess His righteousness, live by faith in Him, and work diligently to spread the Word of God.

Reflection:

In short, our purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy fellowship with Him forever. To do this, we must know Christ Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord. We are to possess His righteousness, live by faith in Him, keep our eyes on our future home in heaven with Him, have good relationships with others, work diligently to spread the message of Jesus Christ and be productive. Following these guidelines from the Bible will allow you to experience the abundant life that God has purposed for each of His children.

Have you changed your mind about what your life purpose might be after reading these scriptures? Is it really so important to rise to the top of the corporate ladder, to attain great earthly wealth, to become a well-known political leader, to become a famous sports star, to be a great preacher or well-known theologian.

Paul’s Sight Restored at the start of his ministry – 1631 Pietro De Cortano

Paul wrestled with these questions as well. Once he met Jesus on the road to Damascus his perspective completely changed. He explained to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:24 “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul no longer wanted to persecute Christians. His whole purpose in life now was to live for and glorify God to the fullest, to tell others the truth about God and how to receive His forgiveness for their sins, and to live with God in Heaven forever. Paul had truly found the answer to one of life’s greatest questions in believing that he had been “Formed by God for His Purpose.” How about you?

For additional helpful scriptures on this subject: 63 Bible Verses on Purpose in Life