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“An eternal purpose”

6 Dec

We all want to live for something that matters. I believe that even though the fast pace of life tends to keep us from thinking too much about the things that “really” matter, in our clearer moments we all know that we have finite opportunities to really invest our lives.  We need to be careful to understand that the only way that we can invest in an eternally significant way is as we invest in the work of the Lord and serve Him with our lives.  The Bible says this of Jesus:

Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

With this in mind we understand that even though there are many good things that we can be involved in, only that which is done for Christ really matters.  The following are three reasons that we can be confident in our eternal investment as we serve the Lord.

I. He is Eternal

 John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

II. His work on earth was eternal

 John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

III. He is our Goal

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

2Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Will the things that you are living for today matter in eternity? You will never regret living your life for the Glory of God!

“The restorer of paths to dwell in”

28 Nov pathway

It is no secret that we live in a broken world.

We live in a world where broken families, broken relationships and even broken churches abound.  Whether it is simply the pressures of life, the disappointment of expectations unmet or the sin that afflicts us all, brokenness is everywhere.

As Christians we understand that this does not have to be the case.  In fact, the reason that Jesus come to earth and died for our sins was to restore brokenness.  He died so that man could be reconciled to God through His shed blood. Christians who are called to follow the example of Christ should then live to heal brokenness and to restore the damaged path of life.  Sadly though, it is often Christians, those that have been forgiven, healed, and restored by Christ that are the cause of the brokenness around them.

Isaiah 58 deals with this issue by painting a word picture that describes not only the problem but also the solution.  As we look at this passage we are given the picture of those who believe in God and have been taught how to properly worship Him sitting on a broken path surrounded by a broken wall.  We are told that the poor and hungry are desperately seeking for food in a world that is increasingly dark.  As the poverty increases and the darkness begins to overwhelm, those who know God only do those things that make them feel good.  They ignore the situation around them while worshiping God contrary to His Word and yet demand that He respond to them.

Half way through this chapter we see God’s response to the scene before Him.  He declares that if these “believers” would stop living for themselves and would align themselves to His Word that restoration would come. As these believers worshiped Him by serving others they would become the light to expel the darkness.  The result of this life of service to others is clearly explained in verse number 12:

“And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.“

There is a great lesson in this passage for every true follower of Christ.  If we are to live lives of meaning and purpose in a way that will make an eternal difference to the world around us, we must stop living for ourselves.  We can be the light that is so desperately needed and the one who is used by God to restore the broken if only we will respond to the needs around us instead of living solely for our own.

Let us each determine to live lives focused on ministering to others so that we may be called, “The restorer of paths to dwell in.”