Life with Meaning and Purpose
Most people do not stop and consider the days of their lives in a very serious fashion. Many people just live for today without giving consideration for the past and the future. In the past few years, it has finally dawned on me that my life is still viable here in this world because God has blessed me. God has blessed me to understand that life is not a succession of ups and downs with no real meaning. I remember about 1957 or 58 that it occurred to me that perhaps my father and grandfather knew more about living than I did. I understood that it is not in man that walks on earth to direct his own steps (Jer. 10:23). This awakening brought back to me that in my youth I had attended services of the church of Christ with dad and grandpa in Lothair (Perry County), KY. This caused me to consider for several days and perhaps a few weeks that it was time that I got my life settled so that I could live with some dignity in society.
Since that time 52+ years have passed and I am still pursuing the promises of God and His Son; Jesus Christ … HAVE YOU READ THESE SCRIPTURES RECENTLY?
NOTE:
Matt. 11:28-30 – 28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matt. 16:24-26 – 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? KJV
John 5:24-29 – 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 for as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. KJV
As we [i.e. Barbara and me] contemplate the future; we will surely continue to do the work for God as much as we are able and capable of doing. There are days when we sit and discuss the past for joy and for strength to pursue tomorrow, While we are still here we will heed the Lord’s statement in – cf. John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh , when no man can work.” (KJV) Only God knows what will transpire tomorrow yet we are set for the defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ with our whole heart; as the apostle Paul so clearly put it in – cf. Phil. 1:15-17 – 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. (KJV)
WILL WE LIVE OUR LIVES WITH PURPOSE?
The days, weeks, months, and years that lay behind us are testimony to our faithfulness and dedication to God and the future will continue to determine in the mind of God whether or not we have successfully traveled the “narrow path” – cf. Matt. 7:13-14 – 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. KJV
My dear friends and brethren as Moses said to his father-in-law many centuries ago – cf. Num. 10:29 – 29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law , We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. KJV