You Are Here On Purpose
Have you discovered your purpose for being here? Have you discovered why you occupy space in this universe? Why were you born into a family that is not perfect, into a society that is teetering on the very cusp of chaos? There is an answer to your question, and it can be found in Isaiah 43:21. The reading of the verse does not take long to complete. Still, I am hopeful that it will prompt you to once again think about your purpose.
Isaiah 43:14-21 describes the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon and speaks another word of promise to the Gentiles. God said he would rescue the Jews and would prepare a people for himself. 1 Peter 2:9 Revised Standard Version reads thusly: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
If you will notice a prominent word in this scripture: chosen. In the Good News Translation, John 15:16, Jesus said, “You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures…”
What was once only offered to the Jews has now been offered to the Gentiles. These people, the Gentiles, would offer up praises to the Lord. Paul reminds us that we were chosen by God for a specific purpose — to bring glory and praise to Him. We were adopted as His children through Christ to reflect His grace and mercy to the world.
As a chosen vessel of God, you cannot live an ungodly life and glorify God! As was recounted in Luke 16:19-31, there was a certain rich man who died and lifted up his eyes in hell. Then there was a beggar named Lazarus who died, and the angels carried him to Abraham's presence. The rich man, I am sure, had many who admired him, and the Bible tells us he lived quite well, but something was missing in his life because he went to hell. Lazarus did not get ushered into the presence of Abraham just because he was poor and suffered on this side of eternity. He had to do something. Even being covered with sores, could he have been doing what Peter admonishes all Christians to do? (I Peter 4:16, New International Version) “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
All that you possess has been bought with a sacrifice! Therefore, not only should there be an outward show of who you are, but it is imperative that your thoughts do not wander and return to you with deceitful ideas. We must take on the mind of Jesus as Paul said in Philippians 2:5-8 (Authorized King James Version), “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
You cannot become what you do not know. There must be an introduction to Jesus, and there must be a sincere desire to “give up” anything that will prevent a relationship with the Lord.
St. James AME Church is located at 360 Dorothy St. in Charleston and worship service is held on the first and third Sunday of each month at 11 a.m. You may also join us on Zoom - pastorv.com.
