Do You Know Your Purpose? ~ 2

Good Sunday morning!  I'm sure you can see the analogy in this chapter. The rectory, which still looks lovely on the outside, is beginning to deteriorate on the inside for lack of proper life inside it. In fact, it no longer has a purpose. And the point is, many people are like the rectory: they have no purpose!
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King Solomon found that his search for meaning came with a price. He said, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Which means he found so much in life that had no meaning. He named achievement, labor, accumulation, wealth, materialism, prosperity, power, and even wisdom to be meaningless. Why? Because these are things you can't take with you when you die.

Solomon wasn't saying that life is not worth living for its own sake. In fact, many times Solomon urges us to live life with gusto--to eat our food with gladness, to drink with a joyful heart, to "enjoy life with your wife, whom you love." And the best way to do that is to remember why you are here. It is to have a dynamic relationship with your Creator. As the apostle Paul put it: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God is not sorry He made you. He has plans!

Your destiny is not simply to return to dust, even though we will all die. Your destiny is to return to God, who gave you mind, body, and spirit. You are destined for an eternal home! Living in a material world of sin and death, you are given the sublime hope of eternal life. This hope is God-given, and adds meaning to your life. When your life takes on its true purpose, you understand not only what this life is all about, but that you've been given a hunger...a yearning...for your eternal home!

Because God prepared an eternal home in heaven, death is not the end. And because Christ died on the cross and was resurrected, we don't have to fear death. Remember the apostle Paul asked, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" Those in Christ will live forever!

But we have been given something to do too. Solomon spent his life searching for meaning. Do you wonder what he said in the end? He said, "...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Late in his life, Solomon understood his purpose. Do you know your purpose? 

Ask yourself what's really happening in your life. Are you a house or a home? Are you wasting a lifetime decorating your mind and body while ignoring your soul, which is the only part of you that will live beyond the grave? Do you know the purpose for your life?

And I quote Lagard: "If you've ever felt that your life is empty and without purpose, you should know that God has something special in mind for you. He wants there to be lights in your eyes and happiness in your heart. He's throwing a party just for you! All you've got to do is to let him move in and fill your life....God looks on the inside and knows how truly beautiful you can be--and already are!"

Jesus is always waiting to come into your heart. He's there to make your house His home. If you let Him be more and more at home in your heart, there'll be no end to life, love, and laughter!

Have a wonderful Sunday with your family and friends.

Blessings...Mimi