EXAMPLES OF PURPOSE AMONG FIVE BIBLE CHARACTERS

   

Purpose is the reason we exist as predetermined by our creator. In the bible, we see examples of people who understood their purpose and the declarative statements spoken concerning them. They had basic roles to play in the course of their lifetime as designed for them by God. We must all not necessarily be pastors and preachers, but whatever form our purpose takes, it is important to understand it and fulfill it. Purpose cannot be discovered without God who fashioned us and if we must live purposefully, there is a dire need to live for God and not independent of God. As we walk with him faithfully, we draw inspiration from his presence and understand our unique identity distinctly. “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand”. Isaiah 64:8-ESV.

Five characters of the bible under mentioned typifies purpose and how they lived their lives fulfilling their purposes.

MOSES: A faithful servant of God whose parents observed at birth as a proper child, he played his part not in only in leading the children of Israel out of bondage, but also in foretelling the coming of Jesus.

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he   was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment” Heb 11:23.-KJV

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him” Deu 18:15 – NIV

“For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you”. Acts 3:22      

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself”. Luke 24:27

JEREMIAH: It was clearly stated of him that he was ordained to be a Prophet.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jer 1:5 -NIV.

“But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you”. Jer 3:7-NIV.

“See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jer 3:10-NIV.

JOHN: He revealed the messiah to Israel and he understood his purpose as seen in his speech as the one to bear witness to the light.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God” Isaiah 40:3-NKJV.

“John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.” John 1:23-NIV

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light” John 1:6-8-ESV.

“You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him” John 3:28-NIV.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."  Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." John 1:29-34-NIV.

JESUS: Though he was the King of Kings, he became man to redeemn mankind. He understood his purpose and did not let them make a king (John 6:15), for that was not the reason he was born.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10-NIV.

“Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”John 18:37-ESV.

PAUL: A chosen vessel to minister to the Gentiles

“But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” Acts 9:15-NIV.

“But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man” Gal 1:15-16-NIV.

 

LIVE PURPOSEFULLY

She remembered her seemingly great achievements as she lay on her sick bed thinking she was going to die. She had done well for herself in getting academic trainings; she had multiple investments and assets and was given to beautification. She was attractive to behold with an imposing height and dazzling complexion; always gorgeously dressed, complementing her great figure and looks. All these meant very little to her in the face of death. Thankfully, she survived the medical ordeal and as she recuperated and recounted her experience to me and a few others around, she concluded with this phrase “there is nothing in this world”.

After retirement from his secular job, he enrolled for bible training course in a bible school. He had worked hard and achieved great feats for himself and his family as well. A sexagenarian in his mid-60s with a lot to show for his labour but still felt there was more to his existence than the things he had achieved. He shared some of his life and work experience and what culminated to his enrolling for the bible school degree with a promising middle aged course mate in the bible school. All the time he worked on his secular job, he had constant nudge to give attention to his life purpose but he couldn’t give attention to it because of his job and he had a family to cater for. Though he achieved some feats, he still felt unfulfilled and he said to this middle aged man, if I knew better, I would have heeded the call to serve God more actively because the longing was always there in my heart. He was a Christian and he lived as one, but there was more to his existence than just attending church and obeying the tenets of the bible.

There is a purpose for the sun, moon and the stars and to everything under heaven. As it is to everything, so it is to everyone, a distinctive purpose, predetermined for every man. The duo in the preceding paragraphs in their reminiscence discovered there is more to life than working on a secular work and creating wealth; and true satisfaction is derived from fulfilling purpose and not just making money. Your purpose is the reason for which you exist on earth. You were designed to function in a particular way to serve your generation. It’s not something you will achieve in the future, but an already crafted design which you live out on a daily basis. A purposeful person is unique and understands his peculiarity and assignment and works to fulfill his purpose. Self discovery is not a rigorous process if you truly give attention to understanding it. It’s not everything that appeals to you as a person and it is not every sphere that draws attention from you or motivates you to contribute and when you do, you derive satisfaction though you are not given any form of incentives. Be yourself and live your daily live intentionally, not drifting along every new trend or trying to be who you are not. Also, don’t wait to be on your dying bed, before you ask yourself what exactly you have done with your life as is the case of some who have died or have become aged and regret the kind of lives they lived because strength has abated and no more enthusiasm to do the needful. True satisfaction is derived from fulfilling your purpose and not from the wealth and other achievements you make.

TIME-BOUND

 

I stood at the entrance of my classroom as a kindergarten teacher gazing thoughtfully at these set of wonderful creatures. Be careful! I yelled. They were out for recreational activities, and as I watched them play, I kept pondering and learning as well. They were young boys and girls, mostly toddlers I interacted with at a particular phase of my life. As their class teacher, we shared beautiful moments together. I learnt a great deal from the little ones, though I taught them. We had fun, sang together, they made me laugh and scream as well to their noisy chatter. We had all these going during my time with them.

I stood at the entrance wondering that fateful day because the opportunity to teach was occasioned by the National Youth Service Corps. I was their teacher for two terms and occasion demanded I stepped out of that door as my service year embraced its end in few days. A new teacher will step in and take up the responsibility I once had. We had gotten so used to ourselves and I sure know I will miss them. I worked dutifully while I was with them because I love to impart children. My stay with them was time bound and I must say goodbye and move on to the next phase of my life.

Life offers a lot of opportunities that are time-bound. Work diligently as every occasion demand. You may never have the privilege to do so when the time is up. Be intentional about your life because life is a complex process of time (Lifetime) broken down into simpler phases of time. Do what is necessary par time and excel gallantly in life. If you fail to make your mark par time, as you step out of that phase, that time marks you a failure unknown to you. Living casually and slothfully will result to a mere passage of time with little or no impart. It is the diligent that stands before kings, those who deal with a slack hand will hobnob with mean men.

In conclusion, a new phase opens as the previous closes, and summarily life on earth ends because it is transient. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom”. (Eccle 9:10- NIV).