Articles
Our Purpose
We are all unique, and we were created for a purpose bigger than ourselves. Have you identified your purpose? Ultimately, our purpose is to be conformed in the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). The ultimate purpose of God does not stop at forgiving lost man. It is taking that lost man, justifying him, and then having him be formed into the image of the Son. Our purpose is to grow up to be like Him.
We are not just playing out the game of life until the clock ticks off and no time is left in the game. We are not just living out the days of our lives so we can change zip codes, from earth to heaven. Further, we are not just trying to stay out of Hell. If a parent were asked what their goal is for their child, they might say, “To keep him out of jail.” That has merit, but while our child may stay out of jail, surely there is more we want for them than that.
Paul will say, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). He said he had not attained but was pressing toward that mark. I would suggest the mark is to be like Jesus (Matt. 5:45). It is to be perfect as He is perfect. (Matt. 5:48). The idea of perfect is to be like the highest order of what is under consideration. When considering love, Jesus’ love is of the highest order. We are to strive to have the highest order of love, like He loves. How does He love? He makes it rain on the just and unjust. He makes the sun to shine on the just and the unjust.
We must grow up to be like Jesus in mind, heart, desire, teaching, and character. No matter how early the transformation begins, we will not finish that transformation. The transformation is finished by God when we are with Him (1 Thess. 5:23).
Again, Paul will say, “We are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). “From glory to glory” is bit by bit. A little bit here and a little bit there. It a slow but progressive process. It is one failure after another and sometimes one success after another. But all along the way, transformation is taking place.
How many problems would be solved if we all took seriously this transformation to be changed to be like Him? Hate would go away. He is love. Anger would go away. He is meek. Pride would go away. He is humble. Sin would go away. He is righteous. All problem marriages would vanish. All problems that parents have with children and children have with parents would disappear. Why? Because we are all growing up to be like Him. There would be no strife between brethren. He is peace.
So, what is our purpose? Not bigger houses, nicer cars, and more clothes, but to grow up to be like Him (Eph. 4:15). I like how the Psalmist said it, “I shall not be satisfied until I awake in Your likeness” (Psalms 17:15).
Rickie Jenkins
