The Purpose of Life Most People Miss

 

How can anyone find out what their purpose in life is? Where do you look? Who do you talk to? Is it possible to have a satisfying, purpose-filled life? Just hang one. Answers are coming.

INTRO

Can anyone find out what their purpose is? The answer is YES.

But you must understand that there are things that will not work. Let’s not waste our lives doing the things that won’t work.

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes was also the wisest man to ever live. He tried all kinds of things in his quest to determine his purpose in life. He tried things like Pleasures, Laughter, and Wine, but that didn’t satisfy. He thought he would find purpose in building something grand and memorable, like houses, Gardens & parks, but something was still lacking. Then he tried gathering in as many possessions as possible. So he acquired huge herds of livestock. He became the richest man ever to live in Israel by gaining Silver & Gold. But it did not satisfy. So he considers the possible satisfaction of a “job well done”??. He said, “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,  (19)  and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.” He spoke about all these attempts to find a grand purpose for life. He said, “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Have you tried to satisfy your purpose for life through laughter, drinking alcohol, or being outstanding at building or organizing pleasant events? Are you actively trying to be a rich person, playing the Powerball, thinking that the power and privileges that money can afford you will bring you the satisfaction of a purpose-filled life? You can even try to be the best at your profession. But Solomon told us that we are just wasting our time, spending our efforts in all the wrong places.

But that same frustrated, wise man of old did tell you there are 2 areas that will work. He spoke of two things that will give you a purpose-filled life. Listen carefully to what he said, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

His first answer to the question of a purpose-filled life is to fear God. But what did he mean when he said to “Fear God? What does that mean to me and you? What do we do? What does it look like?

When we speak of “Fearing God”, we need to understand that there are two kinds of biblical fear. There is the kind where you shake in your boots, trembling when you face God. The other is the kind where there is intense respect. Which kinds should you have to achieve your greatest purpose in life? The answer is: Both.

In Ecclesiastes 12:13 the word refers to the cause behind being frightened, trembling. Simply put: the cause behind being scared. Scared because of what God can do? He created a universe. He can destroy nations, or bring a global flood. He destroyed Nadab & Abihu with fire from heaven. And that same God has told us, through Peter, that he will destroy the world by fire.

The letter to the Hebrews makes it quite clear how and why we should be fearful of an almighty God. His followers are told, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  (27)  but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Those who are not followers of God’s will must face facts that should scare anyone. Jesus warned everyone. He said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” And John the apostle wrote, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

The second area that brings purpose and directions of life is to keep his commands.

Now you may, or may not, know that the list of commands necessary for a productive life is extensive. But Jesus tried to keep it simple for us. He told us that he and his father expect obedience. He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” And a few minutes later, he added, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

God helped mankind by giving us a few comprehensive “umbrella-like” commands.

For example, A Jewish lawyer asked Jesus what he needed to do. Jesus asked him what the law commanded. He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  (28)  And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”  On a side note, You can access a free booklet that discusses these related ideas. You find a link in the description below.

Jesus expects his followers to teach others the commands. Matthew 28:20 says “ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. …”

It would be well to point out that anyone who wants the complete life, that is full of purpose, will not pick and choose what he wants to follow.

Followers of Jesus will love each other. They care for each other. They protect each other. They encourage and challenge each other. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  (35)  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Now, it is important for you to know that gaining a full, purpose-filled life is not easy. Frankly, it is always a challenge, but worth the effort. God’s obedient followers will work for him and try to be as sinless as possible.  Peter wrote, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,  (15)  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  (16)  since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

So God is expecting you and me to make all the necessary changes. Paul told some very smart people in Athens, …  “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,  (31)  because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; …”

God expects everyone to obey His Son. Jesus is to be acknowledged as his Son and Lord according to Matt 10:32 and Philippians 2:10-11.

We have already spoken about the change of life. It is called repentance. There is a link to another video below

Baptism is not an exception. Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples. When he led the other disciples in the 1st sermon, he answered the question of good-hearted Jews who had asked, “What shall we do?” He said, “repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

And then that full purpose-filled life can begin to blossom in you. Because sin is being set-aside, and a new life with goals and greatness to be achieved through service is more than just possible. 2 Corinthians 5 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Paul, an apostle of Jesus, a most prolific teacher and writer, expressed his purpose-filled life in just a couple of statements.  He said, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” And then he told the saints in Philippi, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Simply put, the man or woman who is successful at gaining the purpose-filled life picks up the purpose of God and makes it their own. By doing so, people understand and are motivated by what God could do, that is, They Fear him. And they choose to just obey whatever God and his Son have told us to do.

At Timeless Talks, we love you and want you to have that complete life that comes only through Jesus. So we offer you many videos on TimelessTalks.Net. On the website, we offer you free e-booklets to read, download, or request. We would love for you to subscribe to a free online Bible correspondence course that you can complete at your own pace. Just call and leave a message, or better yet, send us a text. If you have Bible questions or video suggestions, use that same phone number. (or use this contact page)

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