Purpose

 Existence is a purpose. There are some people who from the day they were born have been reliant upon others for everything that happens to them- unable to feed themselves, relieve themselves, dress themselves, speak, see, hear, or walk. What would you say their purpose is? They live but their life isn't one we'd say had any real quality to it. We believe that because we can feed ourselves, walk, talk, etc we have purpose. Yet, they exist and their purpose is in existing. We are all a part of God's plan, I believe this. Every human being born is born with the opportunity for eternal existence through Christ. Our purpose is to live, and in living to use the capabilities given to us for God. If we have no capabilities, that is what we've been given and God will use us in that capacity as well, as long as we submit ourselves to Him. 

We are not all the servant given ten talents (money) who goes on to double those talents for Christ. We can all be the servant who hid the one talent, rather than used it in any capacity- but if we hide any talent (any ability) that God has given us are turning our backs on God. Your talent, your ability that God has given you whatever it may be- and it could be something we believe is completely insignificant- is glorified by God. If your ability is to let God's will be done in You as He chooses and you are someone who has no clue what ability they have to use for God so you're not the one who hid the money and subsequently was forsaken for doing so, realize that a life lived for God unashamedly is not a hidden talent. 

We need to yield to God and allow Him to lead us, believing He leads us. All lives have a purpose in existing- and it may not be that your purpose is a grand one, but a single tiny purpose in man's sight that is everything in God's.

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We are called to compassion.

We are called to serve.

We are called to turn the other cheek.

We are called to be spitefully used… Christ was spitefully treated, we are His servants and can expect the same.

I say these things because we have placed ourselves on pedestals believing we need the kindness of others, we need respect, we need appreciation. We are so caught up in believing our lives of hardship are undeserved and make us martyrs and people to be lauded for perseverance in light of heavy burdens. We grumble, grumble, and grumble some more as our personal plans are thwarted by the seeming selfishness, bossiness, compassionless people that fill our existence. The truth is… if we are to serve unreservedly- how can anyone be selfish? If we live to serve- the more another needs the more our purpose is being fulfilled in serving, yes? I hear you saying that you could be taken advantage of… but if you are to serve without restraint, serve endlessly, serve abundantly, if your joy is to serve then you are overjoyed with being able to serve so much.  Crazy thinking? Most would think so. We've been raised in a society that thinks so. We pat ourselves on the back when we do good deeds and bask in the compliments. We grumble when what we do goes unrecognized. We are SO self-serving, self-absorbed that how we feel is so important and how we do so much in spite of how we feel is to be applauded - by someone, or lots of someones if possible. We bemoan our wretched existence in so many ways and we do so because we are the center of our lives, not God.

We exist this is our purpose, to be used of our God with HIM being first and glorified before everything, before every part of our lives. Our abilities whatever they may be, let them be used of God. If we find ourselves in the situation of the one needing instead of the one aiding, you are serving the purpose of God's by being someone another can aid. You have purpose, we all have purpose and we should not ever think that we have the right to believe our life now is not purposeful in ways we cannot begin to comprehend.

Our lives here and now serve God's purpose wondrously in ways we are unable to comprehend fully, we have the hope of heaven, the hope of salvation from all the horrors of our lives, and that hope will be fulfilled only when our Savior returns for us. 

Ecc_9:10  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

We live now, sleep death's sleep when God determines, and live again when Christ returns for us.

All glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, all honor, praise and majesty to our Father God in heaven, all by the Holy Spirit we pray!  And give thanks to all! Now and forever! Amen!!!!!!!

 

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(Excerpt) The Judgment.

(The Immortality of the Soul, Is it a Scriptural Doctrine?) 

V. THE MISSION OF CHRIST

Once more: The doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul makes the body

only worthless clay, formed into a prison that binds, and fetters, and clogs the

free action of the soul, while death is the friendly messenger that bursts the

prison bars, and sets free the aspiring soul to seek its native sphere. One of the 

most influential of American preachers said lately, of one who had died, that that person "is living, and more thoroughly living to-day than any of us who are clogged and hampered and chained down by earthly impediment." This is simply the expression of the common belief of those who hold to the idea that the soul is immortal. Embodied in meter so that it can be sung, it runs on this wise:-

"Why should we start and fear to die?

What timorous worms we mortals are!

Death is the gate to endless joy;

And yet we dread to enter there."

Now we read in the word of God as follows: 

"O death, I will be thy plagues." Hos. 13:14. And again we read that "death" "shall be destroyed." 1 Cor. 15:26.

Can it be that God is going to visit with plagues, and destroy, the gate to endless joy? Is he so displeased to have his creatures entering into endless joy that he is determined to destroy the very means by which they enter that blissful state? If the words of this preacher, the language of this hymn, and the doctrine upon which they are founded, be the truth, then the Lord is going to do just the thing that is here pointed out, that is, he is going to visit with plagues. and destroy, the gate to endless joy.

But this is not all. We read further of Christ: 

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Heb. 2:14. 

Granting the claim that death is the gate to endless joy, then from this scripture it follows, just as absolutely as logic can demonstrate, that the devil, having the power of death, is the gate-keeper. And so the Lord is not only going to destroy this "gate to endless joy," but he is going to destroy him that keeps it. Nor yet is this all. Granting not only the claim based upon the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, that death is the gate to endless joy, but also that the soul is clogged, and hampered, and imprisoned by its confinement in the body, and that it is released by death, it follows that if there had never been any death in the world, no soul could have ever been set free, and there never would have been any gate to endless joy. And as it was the devil who brought death into the world, therefore, under that doctrine, to him must be accorded the honor of setting men free from this world, and of creating and opening to men the gate of endless joy. But this is the very thing that Christ says that he himself came to do.

He says: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John 14:6. 

"I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9. 

Therefore when the doctrine of the immortality of the soul makes death the gate to endless joy, and the friendly messenger that releases men from this world, it supplants the Saviour of the world, and bestows upon Satan the honor that is due to Christ.

And by all this we lay against the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul the legitimate and logical charge that it frustrates the purpose of God, that it nullifies the mission of Christ, and supplants the Saviour of the world. And if anything more is needed to show that between that doctrine and the truth of God there is a difference wide as eternity, it will be found in the following pages.

To be continued…