Purpose in Life part 1

Written by Bill Gothard


One of the most persistent questions in the minds of both youth and adults is: “What is my purpose in life?” Well, in order to understand why God made us and what His will is for our lives, it is essential to know the ways and callings of God.

THE WAYS OF GOD

Each of us can expect that God’s major dealings with us will be in harmony with His basic ways. He wants us to know these ways so we can properly respond to the events He brings into our lives.

BIRTH OF A VISION

Each one of us has special purposes for being here. God wants to reveal them to us:

* ABRAHAM had a vision of being the father of a great nation.

* JOSEPH had a vision that he would be a great leader and that many would bow down to him.

* MOSES had a vision of leading his people out of the bondage of Egypt.

* THE DISCIPLES of Jesus Christ had a vision of establishing and being an important part of the Kingdom of God.

* A GRAIN OF WHEAT has a “vision” of reproducing itself and many more grains of wheat.

DEATH OF A VISION

The expectations God gives are powerful motivations to continue during discouragement.

* SARAH (Abraham’s wife) was barren and became too old to have children.

* JOSEPH’S BROTHERS sold him to some merchants and he became a slave. Later he was
falsely accused and condemned to spend his years in prison.

* PHARAOH as well as his own people drove Moses out of Egypt after his first attempt to relieve their bondage.

* JESUS was killed by the very ones He came to save, and the disciples saw Him buried in a tomb.

* THE GRAIN dies in the ground

SUPERNATURAL FULFILLMENT OF THE ORIGINAL VISION

He usually fulfills our expectations in ways that we never would have thought.

* GOD gave Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age who became the father of a great nation.

* GOD allowed Joseph to interpret the dreams of the butler and baker and later the king,
whereupon, he was made a ruler in the land.

* GOD gave Moses signs and wonders to convince Pharaoh and his people that God was speaking through him to lead the nation to Canaan.

* GOD raised Jesus from the dead, and great miracles were performed by the disciples until the Gospel had spread through all the world.

* A HARVEST springs up out of the very process of “death” in the ground.

THE NEED FOR THE DEATH OF A VISION

God said of His own people, “Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, it is a people that do err in their heart, and have not known my ways” (Psalms 95:10).
When we begin to understand His ways, we see the great value in going through the Death of a Vision.

BIRTH OF A VISION:

* Faith : “Visualizing what God intends to do in my life.”

DEATH OF A VISION:

* Hope : “Anticipating and expecting God to work out His revealed will in my life even when it doesn’t seem possible.”

FULFILLMENT OF A VISION

* Love : “The motivation to reproduce Christ’s character in others as He has done in me.”

A. GOD’S “BUILDING PROGRAM” DURING THE DEATH OF A VISION:

Since God is far more concerned with our becoming like Jesus Christ in character than He is with our doing good works to further His kingdom, He needs this time of “waiting” to accomplish character building.

The “vision” provides the motivation not to become discouraged. This time of “death” and character building prepares us for a greater ministry when He does fulfill the vision.
Notice the qualities that are sure to be developed during this time: Patience, in waiting God’s time; Faith, in knowing what He will do; Meekness, in yielding personal rights; Self-control, in not running ahead of God, and many, many others.

B. SATAN’S “BUILDING PROGRAM” DURING THE DEATH OF A VISION:

Satan’s purpose is to destroy God’s work in our lives and also as much of the potential for achieving God’s work as he can. To do this during this time he comes as an “angel of light” to deceive as many as possible (2 Corinthians 11:14).

He prompts us to try in our own energy and wisdom to fulfill the original vision. He doesn’t want us to learn God’s qualities, and whenever we follow his leading, conflict results.

A classic example is Abraham trying to fulfill God’s promise of a great nation by having a son by
Hagar. Conflict has resulted ever since between their descendents.

DEFINING GOD’S PURPOSE IN LIFE

God’s ultimate purpose for each one of us is that we become more and more like His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, His purpose is that we reproduce His life in the lives of those around us. Paul travailed as in birth that those with whom he worked would have Christ formed in them (Galatians 4:19).

A. GOD’S PURPOSE: SPIRITUAL MATURITY

Whatever our vocation in life may be, our primary life goal should be that of Colossians 1:28. “Warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (or mature) in Christ Jesus.”

B. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BRING EVERY MAN TO HIS FULL MATURITY?

It means building the principles of God’s Word into a person’s life so that he is equipped to understand and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit in knowing how to respond to any situation with Christ-like attitudes.

C. HOW DOES GOD PREPARE US TO ACCOMPLISH THIS?

He allows problems, irritations, and responsibilities to come into our lives so that we are motivated to search out His Word and develop the full potential which He put within our lives.

SPIRIT: God has given us certain spiritual aptitudes, abilities and capacities.

SOUL: He has also given to us mental, emotional and volitional aptitudes, abilities and capacities.

BODY: We also have been given physical aptitudes, abilities and capacities.

God knows that, left to ourselves, many of us would only develop a small portion of the aptitudes, abilities and capacities which He has put within us.

To the degree that we didn’t develop the rest, we would experience boredom in our lives.
Therefore, in order to direct and motivate us in developing the rest, God chooses to bring into our lives certain problems, irritations and responsibilities.

BASIC INSIGHTS ON KNOWING GOD’S WILL

1. GOD’S WILL INVOLVES PEOPLE

God so loved a world of people that He gave His Son…It is all too easy for us to become more concerned about things and organizations than people. If this happens we will miss the real joy of knowing God’s will.

2. KNOWING BASIC NEEDS REMOVES FEAR OF PEOPLE

Many people have a fear of talking to other people. There is a way, however, of overcoming this fear. If we were walking down a neighborhood street and happened to see a gathering of people sitting in the front room of one of the homes, we would probably experience a certain fear about the idea of intruding in their gathering.

If, however, we saw that the roof of their home was on fire, we would overcome our fear. We would be sure that the message we had to give them was one which they needed to hear. We would also be quite confident that they would immediately recognize the importance of our message.

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness…There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:17,18).

3. GOD HAS A SPECIAL CONCERN FOR CHRISTIANS

It is quite easy for us to become discouraged with the spiritual immaturity of some Christians and decide that we will not bother with them but instead will concentrate on reaching those who have never heard the Gospel.

It is important for us to proclaim the Gospel to those who have never heard. But when there are already Christians in an area, their immaturity will cause others to stumble, and we won’t know how to solve similar immaturity in those we lead to Christ.

This is one reason we are to “do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

In determining God’s will for our lives, one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is: “How can I help the Christians around me to mature and by so doing, beautify the body of Christ?”

4. WE ARE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPUTATION OF THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST

When one member of the body of Christ sins or displays spiritual immaturity, the reputation of Christ is damaged and the whole body of Christ then suffers. When David sinned with Bathsheba, Nathan the Prophet stated: “…by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme…” (2 Samuel 12:14).

Because of this, we are to “exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). Just as the corpuscles in our blood surround a wound in the skin and die in order to stop the infection from spreading, so we are to “lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).

5. THREE TYPES OF CHRISTIANS EXIST IN MOST CHURCH GROUPS

When I had the privilege of working directly with many churches and youth groups, I could always expect to find three types of Christians: those who were cold, those who were spiritually hot, and those who were in between.

I soon learned why the in-between or “lukewarm” Christians are so nauseating to God. Hot Christians are in need of Christ. Cold Christians are in need of the world. However, the lukewarm Christians say, “I am in need of nothing.”

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor how: I would rather that you were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou says, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and know not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17).

When others see a “lukewarm” Christian, they say, “He’s closer to God than I am, but he does the same things I do!”

When others see a “hot” Christian, they say, “His life is so different from mine. I’d better start doing something about it.”

“If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17).

6. GOD’S WILL INVOLVES LEADING THOSE FOR WHOM WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO
SPIRITUAL MATURITY

When we determine which individuals are under our spiritual care and purpose to give ourselves to the high calling of leading them to spiritual maturity, we have established the basis for a fulfilling ministry in our lives. Then, as God allows us to experience death to our natural inclinations and discover His way of responding to life situations, we are “able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

7. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO DEEPEN OUR MESSAGE; GOD IS RESPONSIBLE TO
BROADEN OUR MINISTRY.

We are prone to be concerned with how many people we are reaching with the Gospel. But God is concerned that we bring those we reach to spiritual maturity. “That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28). Those who become mature are then able to reproduce the life and character of Christ in others as well.

If we love Christ, we are to show it by keeping His commandments and feeding His sheep (John 14:15; John 21:15-17). Sheep reproduce sheep as the shepherd feeds them.

8. GOD’S WILL INVOLVES THE “MESSAGE” WE DEVELOP MORE THAN THE “JOB” WE ARE DOING

As each one of us dies to natural inclinations which are contrary to the Word of God, and as we experience the life of Christ by applying the principles of His Word to our daily lives, we build a “life message.”

God desires that each one of us becomes a “living epistle” (2 Corinthians 3:2). As we do, we experience more and more joy (Proverbs 15:23).

God has chosen us and ordained us that we should go and bring forth fruit and that our fruit should remain (John 15:16).

9. ACHIEVING SPIRITUAL MATURITY INVOLVES RESPONDING TO EIGHT CALLINGS

In 2 Peter 1:4 we learn that there are “given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Then we are given eight specific “callings” and told to give all diligence in following them.

DISCOVER PURPOSE THROUGH 8 CALLINGS

1. Repentance of SALVATION

* FAITH

Give the Lord Jesus Christ His rightful place at the center of your life. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

2. Separation from DARKNESS

* VIRTUE

Discern and turn from evil in all its forms. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

3. Dedication to the LIGHT

* KNOWLEDGE

Commit yourself to the light of Scripture. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

4. Investment in SERVICE

* SELF-CONTROL

Become involved in lasting achievement. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal” (Matthew 6:19).

5. Endurance in SUFFERING

* ENDURANCE

Expect to be misunderstood. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (1 Peter 4:12).

6. Humility in RESPONSES

* GODLINESS

Respond as God would to those who wrong you. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

7. Alertness in SHARING

* BROTHERLY KINDNESS

Be alert to others who have been hurt. “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

8. Reproduction of MATURITY

* LOVE

Guide them through the same steps God has taken you. “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:29).

Our “WITNESS” increases as we fully obey each CALLING.

PURPOSE: To become the most effective “TRANSLATOR” of spiritual truth.
Who is a “star” witness? One who has a vital message and is available at all times to share it.

THE CALLING OF SALVATION

To the degree that we respond to each of the 8 callings, we increase the scope of our “life message” and thereby experience the will of God for our lives. The very first step is to receive eternal life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:3).

A. RECEIVE SALVATION BY “GRACE” THROUGH FAITH…

Paul explains the “grace of God” as an active work of God within us to do His will, since all men are born sinners, and “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). God’s first work of saving grace within us is to call us to repentance. “the goodness of God leads thee to repentance” (Romans 2:4). “By grace are you saved” (Ephesians 2:8).

When we respond to His grace by confessing that we are sinners and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we are born again by the Spirit of God and receive more “grace” to live the Christian life. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Paul explains the work of God’s grace in him as a Christian in 1 Corinthians 15:10. “But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

B. NOT BY WORKS OR RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE

Whenever I ask a group of people the following question, some in the group say, “Yes,” and others say, “No”: “Can a non-Christian person sincerely believe that he can cast demons out of another person by the power of God?” Christ’s answer startles those who say, “No.”

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in They name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: Depart from me ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22,23).

5 CAUSES OF DOUBTING SALVATION

Large numbers of those who have professed to receive Jesus Christ as personal Savior continue to have doubts from time to time as to whether or not they really are Christians. Here are some of the major causes of those doubts.

1. “SECOND THOUGHTS” ABOUT CHILDHOOD DECISIONS

It is very important to explain the Gospel to children and to encourage them to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. However, it is also very important to encourage those same children to reaffirm their childhood decisions when they reach the teenage years.

Questioning childhood decisions not only results in doubts about salvation, but may motivate some to doubt God’s existence.

2. AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT TOWARD AN OFFENDER

Bitterness toward one or more individuals has been a major cause of doubts about salvation. The words of Jesus Christ would certainly explain why. “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15).

3. AN UNWILLINGNESS TO MAKE PAST OFFENSES RIGHT

If we have wronged someone in the past and are not willing to ask their forgiveness and make any necessary restitution, doubts about salvation often result. The very guilt of the situation causes us not to have an open fellowship with the Lord.

4. A PARTICULAR SIN WE ARE UNWILLING TO GIVE UP

When a person says, “I want to become a Christian, but there is one thing I don’t want to give up,” he is laying the foundation for all kinds of future doubts. Becoming a Christian means receiving and “confessing Jesus as Lord.” If He is the Lord or “boss,” then He decides what all our activities should be.

5. A POINT OF PRIDE IN BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

Many have experienced doubts about salvation and couldn’t understand why. Upon questioning, it was learned that they had decided to become Christians their way. One purposed she would never “walk forward” in a meeting. If this has become a point of pride, it will cause doubts.

THIS BLOG IS CONTINUED…