What are the purposes of God? What does He desire? What does He intend? What does He want to bring about?
Scripture reveals answers to these questions. God created all things with purpose and his intent for man is clear: To know him and to be in fellowship with him. Of course Satan is always working against the purposes of God, but he will not be victorious in the end. God chose a certain people, the children of Abraham, to reveal his character and his ways to all nations. He chose spokesmen in different generations to proclaim truth and give direction. He sent his Son to fulfill the major goal of bringing all men back into relationship with him. And He desires those who know him today to be light in this dark world through the Holy Spirit God has given us.
Do you see God’s purpose in your life? Do you sense what He has done and what He is doing and what He intends to do? We sometimes get a little confused with these questions, but if we shy away from focusing on ‘purpose,’ we risk missing what life is all about.
Sometimes it helps to simply reflect on the things we know to be true: God wants me to know his infinite love. God wants me to love my wife as Jesus loves us. God wants me to be a great father as He is a great Father. God wants me to be a good neighbor and a good friend. He desires that I live in Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God has purposed that I have a wife and children and friends and neighbors and I must never take such gifts for granted. I was reminded of this recently as I reunited with a good friend in Israel.
Several years ago, I met a little Jewish boy on a plane from Paris to Atlanta. In the Atlanta airport, I met seven-year-old Roy’s dad, Steve. Steve expressed genuine gratitude for my kindness to his son and we have been friends ever since. In 2006, he and his wife drove two hours to take Susan and me out to dinner in Jerusalem. In 2010, Steve invited us to attend Roy’s Bar Mitzvah on the mountain of Masada by the Dead Sea. The event was canceled due to a volcanic eruption interfering with flights in much of the world, but providentially God allowed the Bar Mitzvah to take place and we celebrated a huge moment in a young man’s life.
This past spring Steve sent a note asking when I was returning to Israel. A few of us had just begun discussing a possible summer trip so I sent a hopeful reply. It was not easy for Steve to make arrangements, but he took off early from work and met us for a meal in Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. After driving all day through northern Israel, Nate, Karlyn, and I arrived in Caesarea at 5:00 and parked our rental car in one of three large parking lots on the premises before exploring the ruins. Steve arrived with his six-year-old son, Sagi, at 7:00.
After eating a wonderful meal, Steve volunteered to walk to our car and show us on the map how to drive back to Nazareth. When we got to the car, he exclaimed, “I can’t believe it! We are parked side by side!”
Such a happening may not seem a huge thing and most would say it was just a coincidence, but considering the history of our friendship, Steve and I probably both agree that God purposed that we park next to each other. Thankfully my friend insisted on driving fifteen minutes out of his way to lead us to the correct highway. As we pulled off the road and bid each other farewell, I marveled again at God’s goodness. I pray He fulfills his purposes in all our lives.
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:10-12
“In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” Ephesians 1:7-10