God's Purpose in Creating us

God never does anything without a purpose. He had a purpose while creating heaven and earth. He had and still has a purpose in creating us. His purpose is eternal. God chose us in Christ Jesus before even creating the world and His purpose continues eternally, beyond our life on earth.

Since then we are here with a purpose, do we know that purpose? Are we living according to that purpose? It is very important to know the purpose of our life from God's perspective so that we do not live aimlessly.

Before we identify some aspects of the purpose of God, it would help to remind ourselves of certain truths.

• God made heaven and earth and all things in it not only to testify of His greatness but also so that man could enjoy all that is made. God provided for man before He made man. (Gen. 1:28-30)

• Man is made in the image of God. We are created according to His likeness. God is Spirit and we who are made in His image are spirit too. (Gen. 1:26; Jn. 4:24)
  
• The spirit of man has the unique ability to fellowship with God - where the Almighty can talk with man and reveal Himself to man. The spirit of man can talk with God; relate with God, know God and enjoy His presence. (Jn. 17:3)
  
• It is the spirit of a person that essentially makes up the person. The physical flesh and blood of an individual merely makes up his outer covering. The earthly outer covering will be changed to a heavenly covering but our spirit will continue for eternity. Hence it is the spirit of man that essentially tells you who the man is - his nature, his character, his attitude. These emanate from His spirit. Physical features like colour of skin, hair or eyes; our beauty or lack of it has no consequence. (2Cor. 4:16-5:9)
  
• The spirit of man continues forever. It cannot be destroyed. After its period on earth is over, it will continue - either in eternal life in the presence of God or in eternal damnation and suffering in hell. (Mt. 13:41-43)
  
• From an eternal perspective, our life span on earth is a mere breath - at best a 100 or so years (Psalm 39:5). If illustrated as a timeline, it could look like this:

 

 

• God has purposed beforehand a plan for each of us. This plan was designed before we were even born. The plan is essentially God's purpose for us while we are on earth and it is God's desire that we walk in it. For the plan is good and perfect. It has no mistake or flaw. (Eph. 2:10)

Having reminded ourselves of these truths, we can now try and understand God's purpose for us. I believe from the above truths it would be safe to say that God's purpose and plan for us goes beyond just this breath-span life period we have here on earth. In His eternal purpose which He planned beforehand He desires that we:

• live our lives seeking His face constantly with the intent of discovering His will.
• depend on Him, lean on and trust Him to help us walk in that will.
• love Him with all our heart and walk in His will.
• enjoy His presence and fellowship with Him.
• know Him as He increasingly makes Himself known to us.

Does God's plan for us also include earthly matters such as career, occupation, marriage, house, etc.? Of course, it does. If God provides for sparrows, how much more for us whom He died for. Every minute detail of our lives is planned for and fashioned by God. It is flawless and it is the best. There can be no better one.

If we seek His face, depend on Him, submit in obedience to His will, we can be certain that He will guide us to every phase of our life. We can rest in the assurance that His grace will provide for our every need and our lives which we have placed in His hand and control will remain in His best always. This teaching is in agreement with the scripture that says, "Seek first His kingdom and His Righteousness and all these things will be added to you." (Mt. 6:33)

One other truth to bring in here is that while He made all things in heaven and on earth - the stars, the planet, the sea, the seasons - He made all things subject to His command. They have no choice. But when He made us, He gave to us a will to choose. In all things we have a choice - to seek and discover God's will and walk in it or live by our will and desires.

Too often, even as Christians, we make our work and other earthly responsibilities so much of a focus that we miss out on the real purpose of our existence. We get so involved and tire ourselves out with all that is around us that we fail to achieve the true objective of our calling.

Though we've messed up what God has purposed for us, in His gracious mercy, through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, He gives us hope and fresh opportunities to start anew.

Let us constantly remind ourselves that God has made us with the purpose that He and we could fellowship with each other; we should walk in obedience to a will and plan that is perfect and marvelous; and that we need to depend on Him as God who prepares for us before we have the need. Let us also remind ourselves that what we do with our spirit while in this earthly body is an opportunity that lasts for only a breath-span of a life and we must not waste it. Besides, our striving to live after God's will and purpose, honours God. It brings Him glory. He is pleased with us.

Oh that through His grace and leading, we would be faithful to walk in His purposes for they are true and honourable and right. They are pure, lovely and of good repute. They are excellent and worthy of praise.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!