How To Find Out Your Purpose
Now we’ve established your purpose is rooted from God, but what are ways that God shares his wisdom with us to fulfill our purpose? The answer is the Bible. It is the ultimate life guide and love letter to you. Some people are intimidated to even look into it, because they get to this book called Leviticus with all these different rules and regulations and they start to wonder what is going on. But the Book of Leviticus and all the rest have a specific purpose and story God desires to tell you. Psalm 119:32 says “I have run to the path of your commands you have brought in my understanding.” Even though we will always be learning and only God is all knowing, I firmly believe God will broaden our understanding of His word when we seek it out and pray to Him for wisdom. I think of it as when I first started my job, I struggled to read some of my surgeons handwriting. The more time I spent with them and reading their orders, it became easy to read and more routine. I also had a hard time understanding patients, friends or family members who may have had a speech impediment. The more time I spent with them, it was easier and more routine to know what they are trying to say. I believe it is the same with the Bible. Even though there will always be more to learn and grow in, I truly believe with all my heart and have experienced the more time I spend with God and others who are trying to grow in relationship with Him as well, the more I begin to understand the Bible and what God is trying to say. His heart becomes more and more clear as the relationship deepens.
Even though the Bible had human authors, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says it is not of human words, but the very words of God. God divinely intervened in the lives of those He created to capture your heart with this book. We know the Bible is accurate because of its history, its content, its context and how the message has remained unchanged. I had someone asked me how I can believe in stories like Jonah being swallowed by a huge fish and then end up back on shore, miraculous healings and people being raised from the dead. The truth is, is easier for me to believe the Red Sea parted by far than for me to believe a heart like mine can be changed, which it has through Jesus’s grace.
The fact that I can genuinely love others, despite my natural sinful nature is beyond a miracle. Listen, I will never tell you following Jesus will be an easy road because the Bible actually and honestly tells us the opposite, but it is so worth it. I can promise, you cannot follow God and not see miracles happen in your own life. Jeremiah 32:20 says “You performed signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.”
Now we’ve established the Bible is directly from God, and we know God is all knowing and infallible. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training and righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God has us equipped when we abide in His Word in our own lives, and to share it with others. I used to have the false impression I had to explain or defend God’s word. I realized all I have to do is speak it, and it will defend itself. I would get nervous if I didn’t have full understanding of a story in the Bible, and question if I should even talk about it. The truth is, according to Hebrews 4:12-13 “the word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any double edged sword. It penetrates to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” The Word of God is full in and of itself.
Proverbs 30:5-6 says, Every word of God is flawless. What if we disagree with something in the Bible? I would have to say the answer is, I am wrong. The Bible has an 1,000% batting average, perfect. I have a 250% batting average, on a good day. Every single prophecy in this book is fulfilled. 2 Peter 1:19-21 says “we have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” God does not need to use us and he did not need to use the prophets, but how awesome is it that He desires to use imperfect people like us for His perfect purpose and will!
Many will argue different parts of the Bible contradict due to different translations, different aspects or different opinions. It is amazing to see when you break down the translations, starting with the Old Testament from Hebrew to English, and the New Testament from Greek to English, even among all the different translations, the message is the same. Even among the Gospels, the stories are not the same word for word, but the message is as they complement one another. The more you read, talk and act on the Bible, you will see that every single letter on these pages are true. More importantly, you will see how much God is in love with you. His love is truth. Numbers 23:19 says “God is not human that he should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act does he promise and that fulfilled?”
Archeology and even secular texts find the Bible’s history to be accurate, including finding spokes from wheels in the Red Sea. We also always have to look at context, if you think you see what may be a contradiction. Look at who was being spoken to. Why, what is the situation, and we also need to remember dispensation. Dispensation is looking at different promises that God has at the time period before Jesus came and after. Titus 1:2 says “and the hope of eternal life, which God who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” Meaning, who God is and His character have never changed. He has had a redemptive plan for us before creation, however, He provides a different focus after he sent Jesus for us.
How about I ask a simple and more direct question. Do you want stability in your life? The answer is in Psalm 1:2-3 “but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither- wherever they do prospers.” Do you want the answer for stability in your life? It is the Bible, the Word of God and getting into his word consistently and persistently. John 1:1-5 tells us the Bible is the exact words of God. John 1:14 says “the Word became flesh” in Jesus.
The reason you find stability when reading the Bible is because you are directly spending time and hearing from the One who created you, and desires so badly to be in a relationship with you. Trust me when I say the temptation is real to feel too busy to get in the word, but I can confidently promise you, whatever it is you need to get done, is not more important than spending time with God. That relationship you need to work on keeping you from gaining the word, if you spend time with God, He will give you wisdom as He knows the person you are in a relationship with best. The job you need to get done? He has given you the skills to do it, and will help you get it done once you spend time with Him. The kids you need to take care of? God gifted them to you and wants you to take care of them too. He will provide when you spend time with Him.
I am in no way saying that when we spend time with him, everything will get done exactly how you are imagining or that everything we want and desire in these aspects is just going to magically happen, but we can trust Him. When we spend time with Him, you will flourish more relationally in your own life because we are spending time with the One who created us. To summarize, God wants a relationship with us, and wants our relationships with others to grow. For a relationship to grow and become more intimate, it requires time spent with someone. Who better to spend time with than the one who made you, knows you, knows everyone and everything in your life, and more importantly cares and loves you! The more time you spend with Him, the more in love you will fall with Him and then start to understand the purpose of your life now, and for eternity.
