The Purpose-Driven Life

“let us run with patience the race that is set before us” [Hebrews 12:1b]

Purpose is an ever so deep and immense subject, especially when we deal with God’s Word. In fact, I believe that it is one of those defining attributes that separate the Christian from the unbeliever. As such, something would be terribly wrong if a Christian did not have a working knowledge of the rudimentary aspects of this subject. Thus, the theme of this week’s blog post!

In the opening scripture and some other supporting passages, Paul made it clear that each one of us has a race that is set before us. There is a God-given purpose for everyone on the earth’s surface which was handpicked by our sovereign Father, God. However, due to culture, media, and other societal influences, some of us have thought certain purposes or career paths to be more prestigious than others. In a sense, we have taken it upon ourselves to find out what we would like to do for God or man, that purpose which will be esteemed by men. More or less, we have written our own source code, blueprint, or master plan for our lives. But, does the potter not have power over the clay? [Romans 9:21]

In 2 Timothy 2:20 – 21, Paul recounts the same story of the potter and the clay that he had mentioned in Romans 9. One thing it took me a long time to understand in those passages is that the idea was not in what the vessels were made of – gold, silver, wood, or earth – it is up to God to determine what he would make us into. Instead, the focus is on the next part of that same 2 Timothy 2 which says “if a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor…meet for the master’s use.” I had grown up thinking it would be terrible to be a vessel of wood while some people were vessels of gold. But, I’m sure that thought was not restricted to me alone. Many have thought the same thing without recognizing it. Oh, how much better it’ll be to be a doctor than a teacher, they may think to themselves. On the outside, being a doctor looks more glamorous [depending on where one lives], so we can count it as that vessel of silver or gold. On the other hand, teachers may be looked down upon or regarded as poor where we come from, so automatically they are vessels of wood. But, Paul was trying to stress the fact that, regardless of what material you were made of, as long as you purge yourself, you’ll be fit for the master’s use. Sadly, many people are not concerned about the master’s use or fulfilling His purpose; instead, they would give all to have men’s fleeting praise.

Look at John the Baptist and Jesus, for example. It was, or so it seemed, that Jesus had a more glamorous ministry than John’s. However, it was the perfect will of the Father for both of them to fulfill their ministries the way they did. According to what men could observe, John came fasting and Jesus came eating; yet, it was God’s will for it to be so [Matthew 11:18-20]. In our eyes today, some people may prefer the Jesus-ministry to the John-ministry. You may even think “who wants to eat locust and wild honey?”Happy are you if you have either ministry. Rejoice with great joy, but refrain from criticizing those with the other ministry. Say for example, you have a Jesus-type calling into something seemingly prestigious like becoming President of a nation, refuse to look down on other believers who have been called to clean the nation’s inner cities. They may be fulfilling their calling as well as you.  John was trained by God and filled with the HolyGhost from his mother’s womb only to carry out six months of ministry, after which he was beheaded. And, it pleased the Father [and John] that it should be so.

When time came for John to leave the limelight as the Prophet of the time for Jesus, he did not argue or act in pride, but he said “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” [John 3:30]. There was not much written about John in the Bible, but he fulfilled His purpose so well that he received the Master’s commendation – “among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” [Matthew 11:11]. I am convinced that if people knew that the commendation of Jesus is more valuable than what any man could give, they’ll work towards His commendation alone. But, many people are too fleshly (ruled by their physical senses of sight, touch, and so on) to relate with a spiritual purpose in God.

Jesus did nothing that God had not planned for Him by prophecy. In fact, He said "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God" [Hebrews 10:7]. In Gethsemane, he restated His desire to fulfill the will of the Father even against His request to the Father to let ‘the cup’ pass from Him. The Apostle Paul, also, knew that He was sent to preach to the Gentiles [non-Jews]. He was so sure about it that no one could have convinced him otherwise. The Master specifically said concerning Paul “he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles” [Acts 9:15], and Paul himself said “unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” [Ephesians 3:8]. That is why Paul could later say that he did not fight as one that beats the air [or fights aimlessly], but as one that knows his purpose.

With all that has been mentioned, you need to find out your own purpose and run with it without looking back. Talk to God by yourself; the moment you say “yes” to His purpose, He’ll begin to show you glory that you never thought possible. He’ll take care of whatever challenges or setbacks you may think you have. Clean your mind of all your preconceived notions about what purpose is best, and allow Him to fill you with what was written in ‘the volume of the book’ concerning you. Don’t be absorbed in someone else’s calling. When Peter tried to find out Jesus’ purpose for John, the answer was simple – “what is that to thee”? Jesus was telling him that it was not his business. More than ever before, in our generation, we need to run with purpose. If we are to carry out prophecies concerning us that we will cover the earth with the gospel of Christ, everyone must stand in his own position – without breaking ranks. Imagine an army where everyone thinks he or she is the commander. What confusion that would be?

What do you think about this subject? I’ll be expecting your comment. God bless you!