When you enter the Kingdom of God, you have an opportunity to discover God’s purpose for your life. Life is more than mere survival or the tending the needs of the flesh. Indeed, we need food, shelter, clothing and sleep. We need to labor and pay taxes. Fathers and mothers work to support their children in their physical needs. This is common logic. However, is that the end goal? The final destination? Jesus tells us there is an inner, divine purpose outlined for each of us if we are open to following the will of God. In Jesus’ ministry in John (Chapter 4), when walking through Sychar in the region of Samaria, Jesus had that famous encounter with the Samaritan woman. When the disciples returned and appeared confused that Jesus was having a conversation with a Samaritan woman, she left her water jar and told her townspeople about meeting the Savior of the world, the Anointed One who all were expecting an immanent manifestation. That conversation between Christ and the Samaritan woman quickly brought forth spiritual fruits. Many of the people of that town became believers because of that conversation. In the meantime, the disciples urged Jesus to eat something, but Christ replied: “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” (John 4:32) And so the disciples became confused again. They thought Jesus had eaten something that was brought to him by another. No, Jesus was referring to divine food; spiritual inspiration that gave him meaning and purpose for his earthly existence: “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34) Here, Jesus is saying that life is much more than food and drink, clothing and shelter. We have an inner voice telling us the direction to walk and path to take to accomplish God’s holy will, and ultimately, bring us greater meaning and fulfillment knowing our life on earth was no accident or chance occurrence. All earthly needs will be provided after we first seek his kingdom and righteousness (Matt 6:33). Perhaps Jesus made this point to the disciples at this part of the story to take the sting out of his conversation and human interaction with a Samaritan women, which was culturally unacceptable at the time. Jesus, in this instance, is pointing out that the cultural awkwardness was driven by an inner desire to share the good news with her and her townspeople, that he was the Anointed One sent by God to save the world from the clutches of sin and death. Jesus was driven and inspired to bring the good news of Salvation. That being said, all believers in Christ have a purpose too. That purpose has been planned and arranged by God, not altogether capable of being abandoned by our free will, because we can certainly put a wrench to God’s plans if we push hard enough. Simply put, God has gone out of his way to arrange opportunities for good work for us to accomplish (Ephesians 2:10). These opportunities were foreseen by God before we can even comprehend them. Therefore, our lives have meaning and purpose. We can enter into communion with God to draw us forth into his plan of Salvation for us and the specific works he has given us to undertake. We do not need to hang our heads low, thinking our lives are accidental; no, God has chosen you and me for great things.
Your Life Has a Purpose
