When Christ came into my life, He gave me a purpose for living. Let me explain: Before I met Christ I had some purposes, but I didn’t have the faculty to discern my true purpose, and I settled for purposes of my best understanding.
Most of my problems stemmed from just not understanding the design of the playing field (of life).
Then, I had not a clue as to what equipment was available and necessary for the “game” on that field.
So, to run with this illustration, I had no hash marks, no out of bounds lines, and most of all, no goal line. There were no “first down markers” to measure my progress, no scoreboard to keep track of my accomplishments, no referees to monitor correct conduct required for this contest.
Back then, before I met my Savior, every person and purpose wore the same color on their Jersey. Life summoned my discretionary capabilities to sort out which were friend, and which were foe.
Unaware of my mis-guided faculties,
I eventually placed 99% of people in the “foe” category.
Oh, I naively started out categorizing most folks, if not all, as teammates. However, my self-built school of hard-knocks rapidly changed all that, and my playing field moved into the “secure” confines of my small apartment.
Here I withdrew. I smoked pot, practiced at my guitar playing, ate healthy food, (no meat), fantasized about women and cars; emerged only when necessary to endure 8 hours of a job, or go to the store. Sometimes I went to a rock concert, with the many hash-smoking folks. I felt pretty safe there. I was hiding. But,
I went seeking ways to insulate my broken insides! Yes, this became my entire purpose for living: To feel good and safe as much as could be possible.
I needed shoulder pads, helmet, hip pads, spikes, groan protector. I needed muscles and speed development technique.
All these I added; one by one, till my “true” hurt-filled, guilt-laden, fear-dominated, anger-driven, libido-mongering self, was turned inward –
only to destroy me piece by piece from a headquarters below the surface.
Psychology sought to help. However, their ability to define my particular “disorder” only set me more firmly in it.
Son, you are a paranoid-schizoid-affective person with psychotic features.”
Finally, an Identity!
It felt good to admit my distorted “personality.” I was locked in.
I didn’t know, But God did.
He saved me.
I did not save me, my accumulated cover-up equipment did not save me, psychology with its definitions and labels did not save me.
He took me into the inner sanctum. MY inner sanctum — and gave me a good exposing experience. I felt it all, fear, emptiness, loneliness, hurt. And then He washed it all away!
Gone were the cover-ups, gone the defensive faces for every situation, gone the ego determined fight for safety nets, gone the seeking for validation through psychology, gone the depression tendency. I was truly set free. And now came the fight to continuing its experience.
So, back to “Purpose.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 8:6: Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
In Job 33:16-17 we see “Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his (own) purpose, and hide pride from man.
Now we gain His purpose:
Ephesians 1:11 …according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:
Ephesians 3:11 … the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Rom 8:28 we “are the called according to His purpose.” AND that purpose is eternal.
Proverbs 20:18 teaches: “Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.”
Friends, our new purpose is established on eternal principles from the eternal Word of God. Included here: Mercy which rejoices against judgment, unconditional love, unconditional pardon for sin, grace for grace, liberty from self through the Holy Spirit, a gift of “right standing” before Him, an open door to the Father, etc.etc.
Never relinquish these, the are the foundation for our true purpose. “Others, yes others.” is our new mantra. Love ya
