What do you want out of life? Is that your purpose? I would say NO. Most of us have been told to strive for a life that fits a particular mold. Whether that is marriage, career, financial success, etc. assuming that in those, we will find our purpose. I’m not saying that those aren’t good goals, or that God wouldn’t want you to have those. But our first purpose in life is relationship with God. An intimate and loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. Maybe you’ve never heard that, or you didn’t even think that was possible.
Why is this so important? It’s the real purpose of our lives. It is what we’ve been made for. And every other God-given purpose can only be realized through this intimate fellowship with God.
2 Corinthians 6:18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”
God’s purpose for humanity is to have a relationship with Him. God’s motive is love, and His goal is for each one of us to progressively become more like Jesus; reflecting Him in everything we do. Not just in our morality, but equipped with His ability, power and perspective so we can live our lives just as He would if it were His.
Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And our ability to live it this way only comes from intimately knowing and abiding in Him.
2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
The word ‘grace’ refers to God’s favor toward us. His provision for our every need. He’s given it in Jesus. (See Romans 8:32)
The Word ‘knowledge’ here refers to knowledge gained first-hand through relationship, by experience. (1922 epignosis (gk) helps word studies)
Adam chose independence from God, and all of us were born separated from God’s life as a result; and by default begin our lives independent of Him. But intimacy with God can now be restored because of Jesus. And the rest of our lives, every other purpose, desire and success is meant to be an outflow of this intimate relationship with God.
Although many people have accepted Christ as their savior, they still only understand the role of Christ in their life as a model for their behavior. WWJD. As much as we try to live a ‘good’ and ‘pleasing’ life, according to some standard, it is not attainable simply by changing our behavior.
We cannot do it on our own. We must first be reconciled to God through Jesus (salvation) and then choose an abiding relationship with God. Why? Becoming a Christian is not simply a decision on our part, but a work of the Holy Spirit within us! (See my article, Becoming a Christian-the greatest miracle of all for more on this). God wants more of us than our outward actions!
Philippians 2:13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.
What is our purpose?
Purpose: fellowship
Outcome: conformed into the image of Jesus
Attainment: living our individual daily life as Jesus would live it if it were His
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:1-2
The result: When this is the first priority of our lives, then in this abiding place, we have the power/ability of God to live like Jesus and to do the works of Jesus! Outside of this place of fellowship (reliance) we live independent of God and cannot fulfill the calling He has placed on our life.
John 15:5,7 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Without faith, it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6). This is what Col. 1:4 in the amplified translation says about faith:
Colossians 1:4amp for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] love which you have for all the saints (God’s people)
There is no place more satisfying than where God has placed you. There is no goal you could succeed at that trumps one given by God! There is no peace that will last through the storm outside of abiding in God’s presence. There is no joy compared to experiencing God’s love personally for you as you go through your days.