What gives purpose to your life?
Is it success in the workplace? Is it the amount of money in your bank account? Maybe it is the amount of power you have over other people? Or, perhaps it is other people looking to you for guidance and wisdom?
All of these things can be accomplishments. They all can be good or bad things. But, to me, when I stop and really think about it, they are ultimately worthless in and of themselves. They do not give my life meaning. They do not give my life purpose.
I was sitting with my wife in a church service recently and during the baptisms she noticed me tearing up. She asked me if I knew the person and I said no. I could see it confused her a little. I have thought about this for a long time, even before she said something. Why was I tearing up? It is simple and yet really profound. I just witnessed eternity being changed for one person. I just saw a prisoner set free. I saw the adoption of a new member of my family. I saw myself doing the same thing 40 years ago, and my son more than 5 years ago, and my daughter less than a year ago. I saw all of this in the time it took to speak a few words and go under the water. THIS! This is what gives my life purpose and meaning!
Everything else only matters insofar as it enables and encourages the changing of eternity for other people. Every time I witness the baptism of another person it reminds me of this fact. Yes, I drift away from this high when I step outside the doors of the church. I struggle with this. There are times when I do better and times I do worse at keeping my focus on what is really important. This is a big reason why going to church and meeting with fellow believers is so important, it refocuses you on what is important. I have many flaws and am not the perfect man. Thank God that I don’t have to be! We have one role model, Jesus. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He took our sin upon Himself and paid for it with His own life. But death could not hold him. He raised himself from the dead and now waits for us in glory. All we have to do is accept the free gift of forgiveness He offers and accept him as Lord.
I have done this and so have many others over the years. I believe Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God. I believe that he was killed on a cross, laid dead in a tomb for 3 days, and was raised back to life. I have accepted His forgiveness and lordship over my life and wait eagerly for the day I shall meet Him in heaven.
Will you join us? I pray it shall be so…
For His is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever!
Maranatha!
Come Lord Jesus!