The highest eternal purpose in life is to live for God. Footstep followers of Jesus would have the same purpose he had. “For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world–to give testimony for the truth. Everyone who is a friend of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37 (Weymouth) What does it mean to “give testimony for the truth” and “listen to his voice?” It means to study His word and become familiar with His plan. How can we give testimony to something unless we know about it? (Our web sites and apps have abundant information to assist you in your studies.)
There will be opposition from those we know and opposition from within ourselves. Jesus said, “For whoever is bent on securing his life (living selfishly) will lose it, but he who loses his life (gives up his own natural interest) for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, will secure it.” Mark 8:35
Christians should work at having their purposes in life aligned with God’s purposes. We don’t want to work contrary to God’s purposes. Many do. As Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Looking deeper at God’s plan we see a great and loving God. “You have created all things and for your pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11) It is God’s purpose to have all to come to a knowledge of Him. “…who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:4-6 It is God’s purpose to have a resurrection of all. “For as all in Adam die even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22) and “the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth…” John 5:28. Knowing God’s plan gives us a framework with which to conform our lives.
It’s through the death of Jesus as a ransom for all that all will have an opportunity to know Him. As Christian, we know Him now before others do, and we need to live a life acceptable to Him. We are called to be “ambassadors.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 We need to be a proper representative of His word and His love in the world. We should try to live the concepts of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7). What a grand purpose to think of ourselves as a representative of God in this selfish world.
