Have you ever slipped into this mode of thinking? “What’s the use? Why bother? What’s the purpose?” Most of us have been there from time to time. They are not exactly the brightest or the best days of Christian experience – unless, of course, you find a good solid reason before sundown.
When we lose purpose, we are on dangerous grounds. Without purpose, we will not move forward. Momentum eventually will come to a grinding halt. When we lose sight of purpose, our energy and enthusiasm to push forward are lost. We may still go through the motions and routines with the precision of mechanical robots – but the heart is not in it anymore.
When we lose our sense of purpose, the brightness will become dim. Keenness will turn to dullness. The flow will become a trickle. The closeness will become distant. The soft heart will become hardened. The hot will turn cold. The vitality will shrivel and wither-up and fruitfulness will give way to barrenness. Even the sweet could become bitter.
Barnabas stressed this point to the believers in Antioch. He urged them to stick with it for the rest of their lives.
…he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. Acts 11:23
Barnabas urged them to be Christians living for a purpose. People without a purpose drag their feet and accomplish little. Businesses without a purpose go down the tubes. Entrepreneurs without a purpose go belly-up. What’s the purpose of my Christian life? Can others tell that I am driven, as a Christian, by a purpose?
A genuine Christian normally does not struggle with purpose during the very first year of salvation. Everyone knows what the driving force is in their life. Their life revolves around Christ. They talk about Him to their friends. They make choices that put Him first. They obey Him and publicly take sides with Him by their baptism and renounce their former life. The tears flow easily when they think of the shame and suffering He endured for them. Their heart throbs with affection and their adrenalin flows with a desire to serve Him at any cost.
But it wasn’t just purpose-driven Barnabas. What would the Apostle Paul’s biographical story-line be had his purpose grown dim and had he lost his way? Look at the clarity of his purpose in this verse:
For to me, to live is Christ. Philippians 1:21.
How tragic it would have been had that purpose faded from his eyes and his resolve had weakened and he had begun to flounder! How different his biography would have been had he stopped thinking and saying – that Christ would be magnified, honoured, and glorified in his body by life or by death.
Aged Paul sent Timothy these words:
But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience. 2Timothy 3:10.
He was certain and confident that Timothy, whom he had been mentoring, would have clearly understood that he was a Christian with a purpose.
Purpose is the motivator that catapults us out of bed in the morning. Purpose is the thing that makes us work long hours. Purpose is the anchor that holds us in the stormy waves of life. Purpose is the excitement in our life. No purpose equals no passion. No energy. No vision.
It’s a sad state of affairs when there is no compelling reason to get out of bed in the morning other than mundane necessity. And, it is an equally tragic stage when there is, in fact, a compelling reason to get out of bed – but it is no longer Christ. 🙁
Is Christ the purpose of my life today? If not, why not? And if He hasn’t been, could He become that purpose today? Why not?
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today,
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay
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