Want to Know Your Purpose, the Bible Tells You
Have you ever wondered what your purpose for being on earth is? Did you know that God wrote the Bible, in part, to answer that question?
Second post in the series:
WHY WOULD GOD WANT TO SPEAK TO HUMANITY?
About two months ago while packing our car after a hotel stay, a couple crossed the parking lot to meet our dog. During the conversation, the woman stated she had a new puppy named “Nova,” which means “new star.” She then explained she chose that name because she loves astrology.
As she spoke, I felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit to pray with them, and let them know that the God who made the stars loves them deeply. As the conversation ended, I asked permission to pray, and she heartily agreed. I then prayed as I had been led.
As I finished praying, I saw tears roll down her partner’s face as he commented, “That the prayer affected me deeply.” He then added almost apologetically, “Don’t get me wrong, I believe in a higher power, but I’ve never taken much time to think about it.” I then asked, “But if there is a higher power who made you, don’t you think it would be of great importance to find out if there’s something he wants to communicate to you?” He agreed it would be.
Are you someone who:
- believes in a higher power, but have never thought beyond that belief to what it means for you?
- looks at the world and wonders if there’s someone out there who sees and cares about the world’s pain?
- hopes that you are more than a random combination of chemicals and synapses while questioning if you have a purpose for existing?
Maybe you’ve never entertained such questions, but are you someone who:
- believe in UFO?
- spends hours a day playing video games that include deities with super-human powers?
- enjoys “fantasy” that includes gods, angels, and demons that have other-worldly capabilities.
If you answer “yes” to any of the above, then may I ask what hinders you from envisioning the reality of a God who powerfully exists and desires to communicate something of great importance to you?
THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY BOOK THAT FULLY AND COMPLETELY EXPRESSES…
GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HUMANITY’S EXISTENCE
The first pages of the Old Testament book of Genesis allude to the purpose for which God created humanity:
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness….”
Genesis 1:26 (ESV) Emphasis mine
Looking at the original Hebrew for this verse, we discover it means that God created us to represent and model him. (Hebrew for image: tselem, is masculine, and means a representative figure; Hebrew for likeness: damah, is feminine and means similar to or modeled after).
Since God created us to represent and model him, it makes sense then to assume that later verses might outline how and when we are to represent him.
HOW GOD MADE US TO REPRESENT AND MODEL HIM
In Genesis 1:26-31 the Bible expresses three ways in which we are to represent and model God:
In wielding power:
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 (ESV)
God tasked humanity alone with dominion over his creation. That means we are to model and represent God accurately in any arena where we have authority whether it be in our jobs, homes, communities, or relationships.
Questions to ponder…
- How can we model and represent God accurately in these areas if we don’t know him personally?
- If we’ve never taken the time to figure out how he would do things, how can we have dominion over God’s world and treat it as he would?
Jesus himself claimed to be God and represent him in all areas of his life. Therefore, in looking at Jesus’ life, we see how God wields his power. (John 14:8-10, Matthew 20:25-27, Philippians 2:5-11) Do these verses express a different view of God and power than you’ve envisioned? If so, how?
Through our gender:
So God created man in his own image,in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
Questions to ponder…
- How clear is God about the division of gender?
- Could it be through both male and female genders that God is best represented? I think the scriptures bear this out:
The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. Psalm 103:13 (NLT) (father in Hebrew: ab, masculine)
As a mother comforts her child, so will I (God) comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:13 (NIV) (mother in Hebrew: em, feminine)
- Is it possible that God’s purposes for us are best fulfilled when we function within the DNA designation we were born with?
What if you long to identify with your genetic DNA but feel unable? If this describes you, then I recommend www.changedmovement.com. There you can meet people who have found change possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ. You may also wish to listen to Rachel Gilson’s story. She speaks with great compassion and empathy toward those struggling with their gender DNA.
If that’s not where you are there’s no condemnation here. But I would be remiss if I didn’t allow those who want change to know there is hope.
In our sexuality and in raising our children:
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Note that God’s purposes are not only for the first man and woman but to all who would come after them, including us. God’s purposes are unchanging.
To fully understand God’s intentions for our sexuality we must also read Genesis 2:15-25 and other Bible passages such as Ephesians 5 (relationships in general); Ephesians 5 (marriage relationships); Ephesians 6 (relationships between parents and children). Also, if you have never read the Old Testament book, “Song of Solomon,” I’d highly recommend it. It’s a dialogue between two lovers, from early courtship through maturing marriage. It’s graphic enough you don’t want your kids reading it.
These passages all point to a God who is deeply concerned about our representation of him in these areas, for several reasons:
- Our sexuality is to express God’s beautiful, sacrificial love for a rebellious world as well as his unwavering commitment to his own people. (1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:17-21)
- The parent-child relationship is to express God’s commitment to and patience with the children he has adopted into his family. (Romans 8:17)
- God’s command to multiply and replenish the earth was given to humanity while their relationship with him was unstained by rebellion. Therefore, God’s command to multiply and replenish the earth equals Jesus’ command to make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Thoughts to ponder…
- If you long to represent and model God but don’t know how, would you be willing to talk to God about it, and possibly utilize some of the resources on this website to help you in your endeavors?
- What if you aren’t married? Whether this is a goal or not, if you have questions about how to best represent and model God in being single, I found Rachel Gilson’s book, Born Again This Way, to be very helpful.)
OUR UTTER DEPENDENCE UPON GOD:
And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:26-31 (ESV)
These additional verses are extremely helpful in seeing the truth of our dependency: Hebrews 1:3, Acts 17:28, Colossians 1:17, Matthew 5:44-45
WHAT WOULD GOD’S PURPOSE LOOK LIKE FOR ME?
Everyone is uniquely made and gifted by God. How would your unique gifting and abilities look if you fully yielded them to God’s grand purpose to represent and model him to a very hurting world? Do you think yielding yourself to his design would make a difference? Why or why not?
Blessings, dear one.
Robin
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