Courageous, Victorious Visionary
How can a random and ruthless evolutionary process result in lasting meaning, purpose, and destiny? Most philosophers, theologians, and pastors, believe that our sense of purpose and destiny points to the existence of God, without whom life would have no meaning.
Deep in us, we all want to make a difference while living on earth. We want to fix things that are wrong. We want to help others in need. We want our kids to grow up in a better world. But where does that strong desire come from? It’s the divine nature working deep in our human nature, even though the image of God has been marred and scarred by sin in us.
I’ve noticed that the older I get, the more I reflect on questions around my purpose and destiny as a believer in Jesus Christ. I think a really important question we can all ask ourselves is, “Does my life make sense in the light of eternity?” Shortly before the apostle Paul was martyred, he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Do you sense a passionate purpose in his words? He knew that he had a divine assignment and that he was here on a sacred mission. And he was able to look back on his tumultuous life of over 60 years and say, “I have completed the task the Lord has given to me.”
I believe that Paul was not simply living his life in Christ to survive, but to thrive! His purpose on earth was not simply to enjoy the comforts of life, instead, he was here to do the will of God in order to glorify God. Everything else was secondary to this courageous, victorious visionary.
Let me expand on this subject of purpose and meaning in this life. Nate Saint was one of the five courageous missionaries who were martyred by the Waorani tribe in Ecuador in 1956.
Nate was only 32 years old when he died, but he had already counted the cost long before that fateful day. He boldly wrote, “People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget they too are expending their lives and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.”
That quote really speaks to me! How about you? Could it be that we get so caught up in the rat race of life, or so distracted by the things of this world, that we lose sight of our passionate purpose that God promises to us in this life?
Jim Elliot, one of Nate’s fellow missionaries, was only 28 years old when he was killed by the same tribe. While in college, he wrote these incredible words in his journal, “God, I pray, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for only You. Consume my life, my God, for it is Yours. I seek not a long life, but a full life, just like You, my Lord Jesus.”
May we live full lives too! And may each of us embrace and live out David’s prayer as he wrote in Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Let’s live our lives with purpose, and let’s run our race with the desire to win!
God bless you,
Pastor Dave
Deep in us, we all want to make a difference while living on earth. We want to fix things that are wrong. We want to help others in need. We want our kids to grow up in a better world. But where does that strong desire come from? It’s the divine nature working deep in our human nature, even though the image of God has been marred and scarred by sin in us.
I’ve noticed that the older I get, the more I reflect on questions around my purpose and destiny as a believer in Jesus Christ. I think a really important question we can all ask ourselves is, “Does my life make sense in the light of eternity?” Shortly before the apostle Paul was martyred, he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Do you sense a passionate purpose in his words? He knew that he had a divine assignment and that he was here on a sacred mission. And he was able to look back on his tumultuous life of over 60 years and say, “I have completed the task the Lord has given to me.”
I believe that Paul was not simply living his life in Christ to survive, but to thrive! His purpose on earth was not simply to enjoy the comforts of life, instead, he was here to do the will of God in order to glorify God. Everything else was secondary to this courageous, victorious visionary.
Let me expand on this subject of purpose and meaning in this life. Nate Saint was one of the five courageous missionaries who were martyred by the Waorani tribe in Ecuador in 1956.
Nate was only 32 years old when he died, but he had already counted the cost long before that fateful day. He boldly wrote, “People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget they too are expending their lives and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.”
That quote really speaks to me! How about you? Could it be that we get so caught up in the rat race of life, or so distracted by the things of this world, that we lose sight of our passionate purpose that God promises to us in this life?
Jim Elliot, one of Nate’s fellow missionaries, was only 28 years old when he was killed by the same tribe. While in college, he wrote these incredible words in his journal, “God, I pray, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for only You. Consume my life, my God, for it is Yours. I seek not a long life, but a full life, just like You, my Lord Jesus.”
May we live full lives too! And may each of us embrace and live out David’s prayer as he wrote in Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Let’s live our lives with purpose, and let’s run our race with the desire to win!
God bless you,
Pastor Dave
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