Live on Purpose

Live on Purpose

SIB/Pastor Paul Bendor Samuel

Today, we are living in a period of crisis in the world. In light of this, we are to ensure that there must be no divisive spirit in the church. Instead, we are to focus on fruitful living even in a time of crisis.

At the end of school, Pastor Paul believed he was called to be a doctor, but his grades were not good enough. It was a crisis. For many, it is easy to live as if everything is normal, but the truth is now is a period of turbulence.

Economically, with the escalating debt in the US and Europe, the world is being plunged deep in financial crisis. It may have been caused by the greed and selfishness of a few but its impact affects the whole world.

Politically, there are at least 70 countries in the world today with ongoing political conflict. In the 20^th century, tens of millions of lives were lost through violence and war. There are 40 million refugees around the world because of conflicts. The Arab world and South Asia is becoming increasingly volatile an d unstable.

Environmentally, we are experiencing extreme weather, causing drought, flood and food supply problems. The deglacification of the Himalayas where ice is melting rapidly is affecting the water that flows to China that the people need for survival.

Socially, the wealth inequality has never been greater, with 15% of the world’s population owning 75% of the world’s wealth. One sixth of the world’s population lives on USD1.25 per day. That’s 1.2 billion people. 14% of children are malnourished. The World Food Organization estimates that in the next 2-3 decades, the world will peak at 10 billion and the world must produce enough food in the next 20-30 years as the whole of human history up to this point.

Basically, we are entering a Perfect Storm, which is the culmination of human rebellion and satanic oppression. How do we survive? How do we react in the face of this?

There are three main ways people react.

Firstly, fear. There are many who simply worry, and wait in fear, paralyzed and not being able to do anything.

Secondly, denial. Some are indifferent. “That’s not my problem.” They think. They try to carry on life as normal

Thirdly, self-centeredness. Then, there are those who try to protect their own little world. The symbol of selfishness is often shown in the picture of the cat, which is primarily concerned with only itself – me and meoooown

However, the Bible offers us a different perspective. The Apostle Paul lived during a time of crisis in history, when God sent His own son, Jesus into the world, when God entered history.

In the book of Ephesians, there are 3 realities that Paul talks about that will help us live with purpose, even in a crisis.

Firstly, the reality is that Jesus is Lord. The beginning of Ephesians 1 speaks about many blessings for us -  being blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, chosen before the Creation of the world, predestined for adoption to sonship, having the redemption through Jesus’ blood, the forgiveness of sins. And it culminates in God’s main purpose and will which is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ (vs. 10).

Purpose is very important. It is possible to live without purpose but it is not a very happy experience. Many people die when they feel they have lost their purpose in life. Purpose is essential for living. People get bored when their work seems to be without purpose. Imagine getting in a car and driving about aimlessly, without purpose? It would be so pointless.

What is the world all about? Where is it going? Eventually, as stated in Ephesians 1:10 it will come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes back He will restore relationships and make everything in the world as it should be. In the book of Isaiah, when the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, we will see the lion lie down with the lamb, and the sheep with the wolf. In Revelation 21, the voice from the throne proclaims that there will be no more tears, no more death, no more pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

What is the application for us?

Firstly, we need not fear. We are to live with confidence and hope. The world is in desperate need for hope. We know the end. We know God is sovereign, and so we have hope. Our hope is not a hope that ignores reality or pretends everything is fine. Our hope is in knowing how the story will end. Let us declare “Jesus is Lord, I shall not be afraid. Jesus is Lord, I will live with confidence and hope”.

Even though we may not see it in the world now, it is God’s purpose to bring everything under Jesus, and we are part of this purpose. As said in Ephesians 2:1, In our natural condition without God, we were dead in our sin, dried up. However, because of great God’s mercy, He has made us alive in Christ. Being a Christian is the process of God bringing us to the likeness of His son. In Ephesians 2:10, it is written “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The famous tightrope walker Blondin was the first person to walk across the Niagara Falls on a tightrope. And he did it many times – blindfold, in a sack, pushing a wheelbarrow, cooking an omelet halfway. Then one day, he said to his manager, hop on my back, and I will carry you across. Watching Blondin was one thing, getting on and risking your life needed real personal faith. Likewise, the Lordship of Jesus gets personal for us.

His purpose is for us to participate in His work. He has prepared good works for you and me each day, and that gives life meaning. In summarizing David’s life, Acts 13:36 records that David served the purposes of God in his generation. What about you and me? We too are called to serve the purposes of God in our generation. Mission is not about going to far away places. It is not about special ministry. It is about serving in our generation where God puts us. Everyday is a mission trip for a Christian.

Instead of denying the crisis the world is in, we are to pursue the good wokrs God has prepared for us. Even in a time of crisis, we will find the place that God has given us. At work, at school and college, in the community, in the family, even in the church, we have prepared good works to do. Good works are not good moral deeds, but what God wants us to do. Let us declare “I will seek to do the good works God has prepared for me each day.”

God created the church as a signpost pointing to the Lordship of Jesus. God has taken hold of communities so that they live for Him and are reconciled to each other. Jew and Gentile has been brought together. In the ancient  world, there was no greater division than between Jew and Gentile. However, God has destroyed this barrier and we have become one new man, one body. Because of the cross, Jew and Gentile have been made one.

All over the world, there is the question “can we live together?” There has been huge migratory flow around the world in search of jobs, quality of living, education. In the world, there is a push towards a global culture. A Big Mac is a  Big Mac wherever around the world. Jeans are worn by people everywhere. At the same time, there is an equal and opposite force for people to cling on to their unique identity. However, in Ephesians 2, we see that racism can be broken.  The cross makes all of us one in Christ. Our primary identity is that we belong to Jesus. Its as if God has created a new ethnic group, transcending all ethnic boundaries, even male and female, slave or free. Social status is abolished in Christ. The united people of God is a signpost to the future. God’s intent was that through the church, His manifold wisdom would be made known to the rulers and authorities in the Heavenly realms.

The solution to self-centeredness is to build community. When we pour ourselves into each other, recognizing that God has made us one, we will be a signpost for God, and build community together.

Are we committed to nurture, care and develop the church of Jesus Christ? Just as He so costly paid His life for us on the cross, will we also invest in each other for Him?