What is Our Purpose?

Good day. Today we are posting the newsletter What is Our Purpose? written in 1995 by our dear brother, fellow steward and ambassador of the mystery of Christ, Larry Gazelka, Our prayer is that you will be blessed and encouraged by this newsletter. Have a very blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. ***You can download a copy of the writing for personal use only by clicking on the Built Anew Ministries Archive page link above and scroll down to the year 1995.

What Is Our Purpose?    V17n22

How often do we sit down and ask ourselves that very question?  We would like to know the eternal purpose of God and His purpose for us.

Although God does know the end result of each and every individual, He cannot, He will not, interfere or alter our choices on what we should do, or how we should do it.  His wish is that all of our decisions would be based upon His Word.

Once we choose God, (born-again, John 3:3-8) we will still have choices to make, each and every day of our life.  We still have our free will to operate with.  But, now we have an acute awareness of what is right and wrong.  We have an inner voice that tells us the proper way to go, but we still have the option to choose whether or not to obey.

Even though the children of Israel were delivered from the bondage of Egypt, they still grumbled and had the choice of whether or not to serve the "golden calf".  What do you idolize?

"For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more."  1 Cor. 9:19 KJV

Being given freedom does not always mean being totally free.  We have a tendency to want to help people, and keep them from making the same mistakes that we have.  We attempt to do this, by sharing our insights, and how God's Word has delivered us.  We, in essence, become a servant to all who will listen.  (Be ready to have an answer if asked).

Which path do I follow?  What choices do I make?  How do I know what to do, and or when to do it?  We all should have a map or blueprint to follow.  But, where do I get one?  How do I learn to read it?

Faith is our ability to believe and trust Father.  The "Bible" is the only place where we can find the proper map or blueprint for our life.  (Much study is a weariness to the flesh).

Even in our society today, the one thing that they tell us, is that the younger generation does not read enough.  They do not have enough of a basic knowledge to survive.  We have become so specialized, that we no longer have the basics of everyday survival.

The same is true in God's realm.  We have a lot of people who specialize.  They will stress right or wrong, and mention certain attributes of God, but they are not able to give the people the basics of God's Word.  (Heb. 6:1-3).  They do not give them the total picture of what is required.  Without the basics of survival, how can anyone make it?

Faith is the base of survival as we walk through this world.  Faith can only be received as a gift.  You cannot buy it.  You cannot win it in a lottery. It is not the certificate that you receive when you join the local congregation.

Faith comes by hearing, and by hearing the Word of God.  We have to take the time to hear what God has to say on each and every situation, each and every day of our life and not just when it feels right.

We can look days and miles ahead on a road map; yet, it does not become relevant to me, or of significance, until I arrive at that junction point in my life. Then it becomes a "now" event.  It is useful information and guidance at this present moment.  (Now faith is!)  If I read the map wrong, I will be taken miles away from my destination.  It will delay my schedule.  It will cause disruption to my plans, and affect all those who had made plans around my schedule.  (If only I had taken the time to look at, and study the map properly.)

Once you make the wrong turn, there is nothing that you can do to make up for lost time.  You have to admit that you made a mistake.  Take the time to look at the map or instructions, and find the proper solution.  (Driving 100 mph is not a solution.  It could lead to further problems and complications).  Find and plot the best course back to the straight and narrow path.  (The shortest route is not always the right or best way back on course).  Sometimes, we have to tell someone else that we were wrong.  Even admit that we made a mistake.  It is never easy to admit that we blew it.  But, we are only human.  We do make mistakes.  BUT, God forgives and forgets!

"But thou, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Fight the good fight of faith."  I Tim. 6:11-12. KJV

Note that we have to flee the things mentioned in verses 3 through 10.  We have to make hasty escape as Lot did from Sodom and Gomorrah.  This is the way we have to respond when we are on the wrong route.  Find the solution in the Word and put it to immediate use.

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."  Matt. 16:24  KJV

When we are following the wrong route, we are usually doing things that please ourselves.  We have a tendency to want to pamper ourselves.  We do these things to satisfy the flesh. As the verse tells us, we have to learn to deny ourselves. We have to learn to say no.  Yet, it is a hard thing to do, especially, when we try to please self and impress others.

Peer pressure.  It is a thing that follows us from our childhood, right on through adult life.  We work hard to please others, and or gain their acceptance and approval.  We seek others approval on everything that we say or do.  Yet, we are not overly concerned whether we have God's approval.

Even in the church, we put peer pressure on each other.  At certain times of the year, we have to have new outfits and outdo each other.  We need to give the biggest and the best present.  We are so busy extolling the exterior; we forget or put aside our spirit man.  We become so busy polishing the outside of the cup - we forget the inside - whether it is fit to drink from.

I am supposed to study for God's approval.  I am supposed to be a witness unto Him, wherever I may be.  When God becomes my first priority, what others think or say, no longer has an effect on my life or walk with God. My total purpose is to please Him and Him alone.  (It is the only time my wife is satisfied with being second best).

This is why, when I stray or detour from the path, I have I John 1:9 to rely on.  I know my Father will forgive me, and He will also forget.  Most people I know if they catch me straying will forgive me, but they will not let me forget.  They will be quick to remind me how I blew it. We all have a tendency to be that way; but, when we learn to forget as well as forgive, we will have a great victory in our spiritual walk.

"Be ye, therefore, followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor."  Eph. 5:1-2  KJV

As we continue our journey, we are to walk in love, as Christ has loved us.  It is easy to love as Christ loves us, being a servant to all.  Be quick to hear, and slow to speak.

"Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man and he will love thee."  Prov. 9:8 KJV

"Blessings are on the head of the just, but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."  Prov. 10:6 KJV

"An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor; but through knowledge shall the just be delivered."  Prov. 11:9 KJV

"The wicked are snared by the transgression of his lips, but the just shall come out of trouble."  Prov. 12:13 KJV

"Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way, and he that hateth reproof shall die."  Prov. 15:10 KJV

"A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.  A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.   The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts."  Prov. 18:6-8 KJV

When we end up on the wrong route, we have no one to blame but ourselves.  So often we will respond, "that the devil made me do it?  The fact is that he can only do what we give him (devil) permission to do. He operates off of the words that we speak.  This is what gets us going down the wrong path.  We can blame no one but ourselves.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psalms 119:105 KJV

If we had listened to God's Word, we would not have taken the wrong turn.  We would have been more attentive to the path that we are taking.  We would not have listened to the advice of others. If need be, pull over and stop, wait for sound instructions.  Be quick to hear.

All of us started out on the wrong path, or route.  We were all sinners.  Some have made the choice to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  They are then on the right route.  But, how did they get there?  What caused them to change?

We forget, (for those of us that are Christians), that we are supposed to have an answer for every man that asks.  If our lifestyle and example are not in line with God's Word, why would anyone want to seek us out for proper directions?  If you are lost, you are not going to ask directions from someone who does not have knowledge of the area, or the proper map.  Yet, in our walk as Christians, we all too often, seek directions, and or advice from others that are no better off than we are.

If you have a problem with your car, do you take it to the appliance repair shop?  If you have a toothache, do you call a plumber?  The questions may sound a little absurd, but this is what many of us do in our spiritual walk.  When we have problems, we will read our horoscope, talk to the Ouija boards, have a rabbit's foot or any number of ridiculous things.  And from these things, we will seek spiritual advice or council.  We will try anything except the Word of God.

We will rationalize everything, rather than stopping and taking a close look in the mirror, to see if there is someplace I may becoming up short with God's Word.  I have to slow down and refresh my spirit and recall what God's purpose for me is.  I am to be fruitful!  I am to be productive.  I am to be a servant to all that God would ask me to.

Just as Jesus Christ ministered to those who asked of Him.  WE likewise are to minister to those who would ask of us.  The works that He did, we shall do also; and greater works because He ascended to His Father, and hopefully ours. Our purpose is to bring hope to a lost and dying world.  We have food for those that are famished.  We have living waters for those that are parched and thirsty.  We have hope for those that are ready to give up. We have life for those who are dying. We have joy unspeakable, but we must let our light shine.  It gives no light if we cover it with a basket.  You have to purpose in your heart, to share what God has blessed you with.  Only then, can God add to it.

At the same time, I cannot try to be a saviour to the whole world.  I can only take each day as it arrives and be a faithful witness unto God.  In doing so, someone may ask why I am so different.  Then, I can show them that map and the route I have chosen to take.  And maybe, just maybe, I can help them plot a course home.

That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ
Larry Gazelka