Bonus Trail | Real Purpose
Fresh is more appealing than stale. Great is a better target than average. Real lasts longer than an imitation.
What’s the difference between a cause and a purpose? Causes are temporary. We lend ourselves out to causes. Purposes are permanent. We give ourselves to purpose.
Life’s oldest question…“Why am I here?”
Life’s starting question…”Who am I?”
Real purpose is less a mystery to discover and more an identity to uncover.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (Amplified) And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked. (Dead, separated and walking in the wrong direction). You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God]. 3 Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind]. 4 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy (more than enough to cover our mess), because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). 6 And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, 7 [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]. 8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
Ephesians 2:1-10
· Who was I? Dead in our sins and separated from God.
· Who am I? Alive in Christ, raised with Him.
· What am I here? Good works.
· What is the life God has designed for me? The good life.
An equally pertinent life question… “How am I to live?”
Westminster Shorter (Longer)
Q1. What is the chief (and highest) end of man?
A1. Man's chief (and highest) end is to glorify God, and (fully) enjoy Him forever.
To glorify God means to reflect His character, to honor Him, worship Him and live in obedience to Him in all circumstances.
John 17:1-4 (NIV) “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son [show them who I am], that your Son may glorify you [show them who you are]. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (notice that this means eternal doesn’t start after we physically die, it begins when we spiritually die to ourselves) 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Our sin nature says, “Enjoyment comes from satisfying self. Any restriction or repression of your own self-desires makes you less of you.”
Our Spirit nature says, “Enjoyment comes in living in step with our Creator. The full life we are looking for is found in our surrender and union with Christ.”
Our sin nature says, “Surrender is slavery.”
Our Spirit nature says, “Surrender to Jesus is freedom.”
John 10:7-10 (NIV) 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“Why am I here?”
Good Works will always be connected to Good News!
Matthew 28:18-20 — We have a real purpose commandment.
Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We are empowered witnesses. You aren’t alone in any Good Work (Real Purpose).
2 Corinthians 5:14-20 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors [and identity and an action], as though God were making his appeal through us.
Reconciliation is our real purpose message and ministry.
1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have [making our hope needing to be evident]. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Prepared with gentleness and respect is our real purpose posture.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV) 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
An open opportunity in conversation is an open door to real purpose.
If you are struggling with your place… “Where am I supposed to work? “What am I to do with my life? “Does what I do matter?” I can assure you that God isn’t hiding your real purpose, in your searching process He is shaping your person!
Who am I? A masterpiece of God.
How am I to live? Glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.
Why am I here? Good Works flowing from the Good News.