"The Question"

I liked to ask you this question;
If God suddenly appeared before, what question would you ask of Him?

Would you ask about your loved-ones who have passed on?
Would ask Him to explain the many miracles of Christ?

All good questions;
But, I think I would ask him;

What is the purpose of my life?
Why was I sent here, on earth?
What am I suppose to be achieving?

When I think about that, other questions come to mind.

Am I destined to remain the son of Brent and Betty Reid?
Will I always be the brother of Amy, Rockey, Linda, Donna Jean and Sharon?
Will I always be the husband to Peggy?
Will my role always be of father to Tanya?
Am I destined to remain as Pastor of New Tusket United Baptist Church?
Will I always be a neighbor and a friend to someone?
Will I continue to “talk” for a living, or will I venture off doing something else?
Will I always be a Christian?

The answer to all these questions is ‘yes’ and ‘no’!
I will always be, ‘all those things,’ but my purpose in life, is so much more.

In Galatians 2:20, Paul answers my question over 2000 years before I even asked; “What is the purpose of my life?”

In this letter, Paul writes to the southern churches of Galatia, and confronts Peter about his actions of trying to convert the Gentiles to Jewish laws. Paul reminds them, that we are not saved by our good deeds or by following the law (Jewish laws), we are saved by the grace and mercy of Christ.

For Romans 3:28 tells us; “We are made right with God through faith (in Christ) and not by obeying the law.”

So, through faith in Christ, not the law, we are saved; and through salvation, we have become something else.

Ephesians 2:10; “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

He has created us anew…so that we can do the good things He planned for us to do.

Yes, we were put on this earth to be all those things that I have mentioned, but we all have a purpose, given to us by God.

For some, it is quite apparent what they should be doing for God. We all have God-given, gifts and abilities. We all can do something that someone else can’t. The key is finding out what that something is.

For some, it might be a life-long endeavor. For some, it might take years and years to achieve and finally finish that task. For some they achieve it quite early in life and for others, they finish the job in their golden years.

For some it will take a lifetime to learn what they must learn, to be able do what they were destined to do. For some, they simply have to wait until the opportunity presents itself, and then they take action.

For some, they keep doing their task, over and over again, never straying from the course. For some, it is a series of events, one after another, until Christ calls them home.

For some, it is one, single, solitary action, that God has assigned them. A simple act of kindness; a lending hand; a quick smile; or in a split second, they have changed the life of someone, forever – and for the better.

For, He has created us anew…so that we can do the good things He planned for us to do.

Paul tells the Galatians & us;
“I, myself, no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live my life in this earthly body, by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Through salvation, by Christ, we are changed, so that we can complete those things that God wants us to complete.

Back in Matthew 28:19 & 20, The Great Commission;
Jesus gives His disciples their tasks. He assigns them the ultimate job in history – to build His Church (x2).

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach these disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”

That, my friends, was/is a huge, daunting task. How would you respond, if God said that to you?
“Go and make disciples of all the nations?”

Well, our one task as Christians, is to do that very thing.

Our one purpose in life, all of us, is to tell others about the love of God, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ – so that they too can believe and share in eternal life

Wouldn’t you want all your family and friends and neighbors to be with you in heaven, after the second coming, and after the end of this world, as we know it?

I would! I want everyone to know and experience God’s love, and I want everyone to know and experience ever-lasting life.

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In our scripture for today, Paul says this;
I, myself no longer live…

Because of Jesus, God now looks at us, as being (also) crucified. Since our sins died with Christ (on the cross), we also died with Him there; and were raised into a new life. This is the connection and the link to being a new creation in Christ.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.”

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: for the old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.”

A new creation, a new creature, and a new purpose in life.

“What this means is that those who become Christians, become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun.”

We become brand new persons, on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us new life, and we are not the same, anymore. “No turning back, no turning back.”

But, remember this, we are not merely re-formed, re-habilitated, or re-educated – we are re-created. We are new creations, living in union with Christ. At our conversion, we do not merely turn over a new leaf; we begin a new life, under a new master, and a new purpose.

The old person had died and the new person is alive and well. We are a new creation in Christ, because of Christ, and for Christ.

“You, yourself no longer live…”

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The next part of today’s scripture;
“…but Christ lives in me.”

Here, Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit dwells within Him, now that He is a Christian; we are the same. Our actions, attitude and speech should be Christ-like, for He now leads our lives. Our new Christian life began when we died with Christ; in unity – we died to our old life.

Now, that we are united with Christ, in His death, and our evil desires and bondage to sin, died with Him. Now, united by faith with Jesus, in His resurrection life, we have unbroken fellowship with God, and freedom from sin’s hold on us.

People can see Christ in us, by our actions – for we are all walking, living sermons.

Galatians 5:22-23, we hear how we are changed.

“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

The Fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work, of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these characteristics that are found in the nature of Christ – which is in us all. They are by-products of Christ’s control. He must grant them to us, and if we want the Fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our life to His. If you lead a spirit-filled life, you live in harmony, perfect harmony, with the intent of God’s law – for Christ lives in you.

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Next, Paul tells us;
“So, I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God…”

We live our lives, as we trust in God, and we trust in God, as we live our lives.

Trust and faith is hard to achieve, for we humans have this need to be in control of our lives, our destiny. But little do we know, what a sense of freedom and relief, we gain, by giving it all over to Jesus.

“From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body, the marks of Jesus.”

People can look at you, and know you are a Child of God, and that the Holy Spirit dwells within you – and that you have trust in Him.

Trust is to hope, and to place your confidence, in something or someone.

The Lord says; “Blessed are you, who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. You will be like a tree planted by the water, that sends out your roots by the stream. You do not fear when heat comes; your leaves are always green. You have no worries in a year of drought, and you never fail to bear fruit.”

Trust produces in you that confidence, and you will prosper, you will be like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken and endures forever. Your trust in God, will fill you with joy, peace, and you will be overflowing with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And even though, at times, this world will bring you to your knees, through Trust in Him, you will rise up and stand firm – in your confidence. For God is your refuge and your fortress; if you believe and trust.

Trust in the Lord, forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

“So, you live your life in your earthly body, by trusting in the Son of God…”

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And the final part of our scripture for today, Paul tells all who will listen;

“…who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

We receive the gift of salvation through love, and we live a life of love through salvation.

Romans 13:11-12 reminds us;
“The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So, let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Salvation is deliverance from slavery; from the bondage of sin. Salvation is deliverance from that great distress that has been present in your life - for so long. Salvation is deliverance, by the intervention of God.

God loved you so much that He sent His Son to die upon the cross, as a substitution, for you. Jesus loved you so much, that He went without hesitation; He offered Himself without delay; He died without faltering.

“…He loved you and gave Himself for you.”


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And, I agree with Paul;

“I have been crucified with Christ: the life I now live is not my life, but the life which Christ lives in me; and my present bodily life is lived by faith, in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

And, you…

“You have been crucified with Christ (as well), and in Him you have shared His crucifixion, it is no longer you who live, but Christ, the Messiah, who lives in you; and the life you now live in your body, you live by faith – by Adherence to, reliance on, and having complete faith and trust – in the Son of God, who loved you and gave Himself up for you.”

If we still act sinfully, then Christ died for nothing, His crucifixion is meaningless, and we have no purpose in our life. It is only through God’s purpose in our lives that Christ’s death is honored.

My purpose in life, your purpose in life…is to share the Gospel of Christ, and to glorify God in all you do.

Let us pray, together;
May You help us to find our purpose in life and maintain the desire to follow it. May you help us to fulfill our life’s destiny, and may You always be a part of our lives. Amen