Senior year in high school when everyone was working on filling out college applications, I was procrastinating. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, but I was told that I was supposed to go to college. If so, “what would I major in?” I had more questions than answers but I went anyway because that’s “what I was supposed to do.” Those who knew what they wanted to major in had purpose and therefore had value. They were going to do great things and make an impact. So I began to craft my purpose, it wasn’t concrete but it was something to work with. However, every purpose I built kept crumbling, I just couldn’t commit to anything. I was chasing purpose because I needed my life to have value too.

What is Purpose?

How little did I know about what it meant to have purpose? All along I did not have to chase it because I already had it.

Purpose is the reason why we were created. It is not “what should I do with my life?” but “why was I given life?” The reason why we were created does not change. It cannot be crafted or built by those who are not the Creator. It does not matter the season or circumstance of your life, wherever you are, whoever you are, your purpose remains the same. Regardless of our paths in life, we were all created by God for the same reason.

“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)

You can choose to deny your purpose but your denial does not change the purpose of the Creator. We were created to be in a relationship with God it has been designed from the beginning and will always be in eternity. 

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

Your purpose is not defined by temporary pursuits such as achievements, possessions, popularity, positions, and titles. These things did not create you, they do not give you life. They are short-lived and can be taken. When what is temporary is taken it will take your value with it. On the other hand, true purpose is not temporary. God has not changed His reason for creating us. Fast forward to Revelations 21 and He is fulfilling the work that He began.

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)

Created for Relationship

God’s work restoring His relationship with us reveals that we were created to know and be with Him. It all began in the Garden of Eden. It wasn’t just a place of abundance and beauty, but a place where God and humanity dwelled and worked together. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge good and evil, sin separated God and mankind. Since their exile from Eden, God has sought to be reunited with humanity. 

“I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” (Leviticus 26:11-12)

From the garden to mountaintops to temples, sin has not stopped God from making His place among mankind. Because of His relentlessness, mankind has been able to experience an intimate relationship with Him. Being in God’s presence has been referred to as a dwelling place or the secret place. As Moses had said, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.” (Psalms 90:1) Even now we can draw closer to Him by abiding in Him and Him in us. We are the temple, the garden of Eden in which God dwells.

Vice versa being in His presence is like being in the garden of pleasure. David a man after God’s heart testifies, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalms 16:11)

Throughout the Bible, God has invited us to seek Him, draw closer to Him, know Him, and follow Him. These invitations show us that God does not force Himself on us but invites us into a relationship with Him.

“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord.”

(Jeremiah 29:12-14)

You are created to be in a relationship with God, your Creator. It is an invitation for you to accept or reject.

Will you choose to be separated from Him, or with Him?

Prone to Wander

Despite sin separating us from God, He had a plan to bridge the divide through His Son Jesus; He laid down His life to reconcile us to the Father. 

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)

To restore the relationship “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) And in “receiv[ing] Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”(John 1:12)

The challenge that stands before every believer is that we are prone to wander, because of the temptations of the world and the flesh. In addition to temptation, the devil convinces us of his deceptions, that the world is better than God, or that we were meant to be apart from Him. Sin being overwhelmingly enticing can discourage and weaken our faith to live in our purpose.

However, the closer you draw to God the world grows dim and you will delight in His presence on a deeper level. Paul reminds us that nothing separates us from God’s love therefore we must fight to leave the world behind and live according to the purpose we were created for. Keep His words in your heart and walk in the Spirit.

 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

How Does a Relationship with God Transform Your Life?

The love that is closer than before offers us freedom from chasing temporary pursuits. The desires of your heart can lead to emptiness and darkness, but God can lead you to His light and fulfillment. All the things you strive for, that you use to call your purpose can now cease. The invitation remains for you to know your Creator. Knowing God changes your perception and response to the world because you are a new creation in Christ. 

When you walk with God, you will know that:

• He will never leave you nor forsake you
• He sustains you
• He keeps you from darkness
• He gives you the wisdom to navigate through valleys and mountains
• He is a father to the fatherless
• He is a shepherd to the lost
• Healer to the sick
• His love is unconditional 
• He is an adventure a mystery and a wonder

Whether you are at the beginning of the journey or somewhere along the path, His word and prayer are fundamental guides for you to abide in Him and Him in you.

Conclusion

God’s purpose for your life is for you to know Him and dwell in His presence. You were created to be in an eternal relationship with Him. Even though we are prone to wander from our purpose God is relentless. From the beginning to the end of the bible, He has always been in pursuit of being with humanity. So know that whether you are starting a business or working at a 9-5, in the city or country, single, married, or divorced, old or young, sick or well, rich or poor, lost or confused, happy or sad and so much more your purpose has not changed.  

Will you accept His invitation to live in your purpose?

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you say your purpose in life is?

2. How has a relationship with Jesus transformed your life?

3. What is an obstacle that causes you to wander?