Purpose
Everyone at some time or another has given thought to purpose. We wonder about the purpose of our lives, the existence of one thing or another, the purpose of certain activities, and the purpose of even material objects. Some of this analysis is useful in prioritizing our lives, and deciding what to keep and what objects to throw away. Sometimes purpose makes us feel important, or helpful. Sometimes purpose holds families together. Sometimes people pattern their entire lives upon the purpose that they believe that they are supposed to serve. Some of this analysis helps us to determine our profession. Some have searched their hearts and found no purpose for their lives. If someone has not found purpose for their lives, then they do not have a relationship with the LORD God. Our purpose is in LORD God.
God created the heavens and the earth. God’s desire for companionship was God reason for creating mankind. God desires for mankind to worship him and praise him. God desires for us to have constant communion with him. The Holy Bible says that we should pray without ceasing. This is our way to constant communion with God. This is our purpose.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-22
16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Although our primary relationship is to be with God, along the way we establish other relationships with family and friends. Along the way we establish ourselves professionally and build working relationships. Along the way we spend time and effort, and sometimes invest ourselves in creating other purposes, and sometimes after years of training, education, and years of effort, we develop what we believe to be our purpose, but it never replaces our original purpose, which is to serve as companion to God.
So why then when misfortune interrupts or when an accident or disease happens, do we feel that our purpose has been taken away or destroyed? Why then do people feel that after a time, when people grow old, and bodies become weak, that they have already served their purpose, or that they no longer have purpose? Their purpose still exists, which is to serve as companion to God.
Psalm 100:1-5
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Sometimes God gives us additional responsibilities. Our second purpose is to serve God. Elijah knew God and knew that his purpose was to serve God. An example of this is when Elijah confronted Ahab because Ahab worshiped Baal instead of God. Because Ahab stood for God and had relationship with God, God provided for Elijah. Elijah was always immediately obedient to God.
1 Kings 17:1-7 1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
God told Elijah where to go and what to do. Elijah did exactly what God told him immediately and God provided for Elijah. When the brook Cherith dried up, God told Elijah to go to Zidon. Elijah was immediately obedient. Here Elijah had two purposes, the first was to be companion to God, and the second was to serve the LORD God by standing for God, and being a voice for God.
In Zarephath, God had commanded a widow woman to provide for Elijah. Here we see that the widow woman is a servant to the LORD God, and she shows us our third purpose, which is to help others. Here the widow woman has two purposes. Her purposes were to be companion to God, and to serve God by helping others. When Elijah went to the widow woman and asked for food, she told him that she had nothing to give him. Elijah promised her that if she provided for him that her meal and her oil would not run out until the drought and famine were over. Because she was obedient to God, God provided for her and her son.
1 Kings 17:8-16
8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
While God did have a special relationship with Elijah, God is willing to have that kind of relationship with each of us. Our relationship with God is not limited by who we are. Our relationship with God is limited by our lack of obedience to God, and our lack of righteousness.
John 10:27-30
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
Here we see that we have protection in our relationship with God. God leads us, and we are to be companion to him, and obedient to him. If we do not follow Jesus or God, then we find ourselves in a different place than God exist. It is then very difficult to hear from God, when we are not with God. If we cannot hear from God, then it becomes more difficult to be servant to God. Part of following Jesus, is obedience and righteousness.
2 Chronicles 7:14
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.
In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray and request that none of us forget our purpose is to serve the LORD God. In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray and request that the Holy Ghost speak to those who are questioning their existence and lead them to serve LORD God, leading them to find comfort in God. I pray and request that LORD God reward those who love him with his holy presence. I pray and request that LORD God expose the lies of the devil and satan that try to make us feel meaningless, and try to make us forget our purpose. I pray and request that LORD God speak to those who do not know him, who feel desperate and alone, and lead them to know Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and to have relationship with the LORD God. I pray and request that Jesus lead those who have gone the wrong path and no longer hear the voice of the Holy Ghost, and lead them back to a righteous path. Lord Jesus please lead them back to a relationship with God. I pray this request in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.