Monday, August 20, 2018
614 - The Purpose of Asking, Part 2
Spirituality Column #614
August 21, 2018
Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
The Purpose of
Asking, Part 2
By Bob Walters
“And
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose.” – Paul, Romans 8:28
“For
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes
in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – Jesus to Nicodemus, John 3:16
Back when I had a flip phone and it
was easy to do such things, my front-screen banner read, “Romans 8:28.” And I remember that rainbow-haired guy on TV
at ball games years ago who frantically waved a sign that read, “John 3:16.”
“All things work together for good” and “God so loved the world” are the soothing,
opening-clause feel-good headlines of these two well-known and oft-quoted Bible
verses. But the business end of both
appears after the comma, “been called
according to his purpose” and “whoever
believes in him … shall ... have eternal life.” Folks easily grasp the opening-line good news
about hope (things working out) and love (“God loves me!”) but then skip over
the heavy-lifting part about purpose and believing.
Last week here
we talked about the fellow who, as he lay with his heart stopped on an
operating table, had an out-of-body, near-death-experience conversation with
God. God invited him to ask a question,
and after a stammering pause the man asked, “What is the meaning of life?”
“Love” was God’s answer. Fine. Perfect.
But that question seeking “meaning” is evidence that the man was asking
for a self-satisfying explanation, not seeking to “do” something in and for
God’s Kingdom.
For now let’s
take the guy’s “I met God” story at teachable face value and not argue
doctrine. I think a better question to ask God rather than the philosophical
and worldly “meaning of life” would be the action-oriented, “What is the purpose of life?”
“Purpose”
is where a life of faith hits the ground running. Purpose asks “What is God trying to do?”
Purpose asks, “How can I help?” The
question isn’t meant in a legalistic, self-centered, “working one’s way into
the saving grace of Jesus” sort of way. There’s
nothing we can do to attain that. Jesus
has already bestowed His grace, died to defeat death, forgiven our sins,
restored our relationship with God in heaven, and ensured our adoption as sons
and daughters in the divine Kingdom. The
Cross seals it, the Resurrection proves it, and faith in Jesus brings it. The
Bible says so. Done deal.
Still, “purpose.” What is God’s purpose? What is the purpose of life? Of my life?
From
Genesis to Revelation there is a steady drumbeat of one easy answer and I
believe with all my heart and mind that the ultimate, final, end-of-the line, drop-the-mic
answer of all divine purpose is just as simple as this: God’s glory.
God’s creation is for His
glory. God’s love is for His glory. God’s
creation of us in His image is for His glory.
Our salvation is for His glory.
Our faith in Jesus (especially key) is for His glory. My eternal life is
for God’s glory. This life’s purpose is to love God, love others, tell others, and
to trust and believe in Jesus Christ. What’s
the measure of “right” vs. “wrong”?
God’s glory. What’s the purpose
of life? God’s glory.
But that’s not the question I’d ask
Him.
Walters
(rlwcom@aol.com) trusts God’s purpose, love, righteousness,
and glory – and so do a lot of us. But questions still abound, one in particular
we’ll ask next week.
Btw ... here’s the "talked to God" video link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UAnySx2lHC8.
Btw ... here’s the "talked to God" video link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UAnySx2lHC8.
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