The Ultimate Purpose

If there is an emotion that every human being goes through, it is the need to feel important, like you have a purpose. Simple proof is in the success of social media, we want to let everyone know what we are doing or thinking and a virtual audience or follow make us feel like we matter. We spend most of our lives in self discovery, some eventually find it, while some just go on searching for it until they die.

There are two things that I am sure of in this life: 1) I was created ON purpose and 2) I was created FOR a purpose. And just like everyone else when I do not know this my heart is often filled with dissatisfaction, and sometimes I even go as far as searching for things to give me the same contentment finding my passion and purpose would.

Allow me to define the terms I am talking about in my own words; being created ON purpose means that you and the rest of the people and things in this word were created because someone who is the creator planned and decided to create you. This means that all of creation was meant to be created and did not just appear because of a big bang, and because of this we all have a longing for purpose. I would like to define the second term ‘FOR a purpose’ as having a reason behind you being created. And for so many of us until we find this purpose, our hearts are restless and our lives seem worthless.

So many people in the world are obsessed with finding purpose, that is why we find that some of the most porpular conference talks, sermons, books, motivational talks are on finding your purpose. It is something we all genuinely long for, to some it might even be the most important thing they can ever know about themselves.

I believe the solution to our hearts longing to know why were created by the creator lies in knowng the creator:

“everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made” Isaiah 43:7

“…he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’” Acts 17:24-28

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created othrough him and for him.” Colossian 1:16

With these verses, it is clear that we were created on purpose by God, the creator of the whole universe (see also Psalm 139). And the purpose of our creation is simply to bring him glory, “whether we eat or drink, we do it for the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Sadly so many of us chase things and find purpose in doing things, however good they might be rather than simply being content in bringing glory to God even in the ordinary doings of life. Bring God glory on your job as an accountant or janitor or waiter or CEO and even if ministry is your work, find purpose only in bringing God glory.

“God does not need us for anything yet it is the amazing fact of our existence that he chooses to delight in us and allow us to bring joy to his heart. This is the basis of significance in the lives of all God’s people; to be significant to God is to be significant in the most ultimate sense. No greater personal significance can be imagined.” (Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology)

The westminister catechism gives this answer to the most important question on purpose, what is the chief end of man? Answer: To glorify God and enjoy him forever.

Grace and Peace,

Your Sister in Christ,

Dee.