God's purpose for your own life

GOD'S PURPOSE FOR YOU

This is a follow-up to my previous article entitled 'God's purpose for my life'. In that article, I noted that following the gift of a little booklet by a street preacher/evangelist, which I now believe was divinely-planned, my inner eyes were opened to a truth that's always been there with me, to help me overcome some challenges I had and make decisions I had to make. I also related that article to YOU!

Reading a little further into that little booklet, I noted some powerful observations made by the author, Pastor Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He noted that:
"There are several people who go through life and fail ultimately because they did not know how to pass."
The simple lesson here is that people fail ultimately because THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PASS.

The story of 'not knowing'

He goes ahead to make us understand, and appreciate the consequences of, what 'not knowing' means with two stories. The stories which illustrate this point are set in the young undergraduate days of the author in 1964, as a student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye (credit)

The stories and their morale

The first story: a failed test

The first story describes examinations he and other few select students went through in order to qualify for an academic exchange programme with the Michigan State University, USA. After having successfully passed the written exams, they were all invited to a dinner party, which was in reality their final test, but they were not told this was a test. He recalls how he filled his mouth with food, and took hot tea with spoon at the party; only to fail at the end of the day because he did not observe the simple rules of table etiquette.

It would later take the author some solid 15 years after failing the dinner party test in 1964 to finally visit the USA, but when he did, it was on his own.

The second story: a successful test

In the second story, he tells of how he and his friend prepared for selection into the school volleyball team after they were advised by somebody on "what they will do on the day of selection." The person told them they "would be made to run a mile and do ten press-ups...that we would be made to lift weights...at least." He notes that, "since we were told in advance, my friend and I started making preparations."

On the D-day, 86 students turned up for selection, but only 6 students were needed. He concludes that, "Obviously, on the day of selection we passed easily and we were selected."

The Test of Life: a lesson for understanding God's Purpose

Note carefully that in the last story about the young Pastor Adeboye's successful selection into the school volleyball team, they were told how to prepare and came prepared and ready for the test. THEY PASSED BECAUSE THEY KNEW HOW TO PASS, BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD HOW TO PASS. This is exactly how life, all our lives, is.

Without being prepared, it is impossible to pass through life successfully.

As Christians we're deeply concerned with living our lives in keeping with the WILL of Our Heavenly father, of fighting the good fight of faith which is required of us, and of living life to the fullest as God Himself intended for us. And talking about life, who better to tell us how to live than God Himself through His Word - the Holy Bible.

If you or I fail the test of life, there is no resit in Heaven. The issue of God's Purpose in your life, or in my own life, is an extremely important one that ought not to be taken lightly.

Implication for us at a personal level

From my own daily and personal experience, I have discovered that any life without FOCUS and without daily PERSISTENCE at doing what is needful, in whatever sphere of life, is a sure path to personal failure and personal disaster. This is very true in material issues, and much more in spiritual matters.

We must therefore be completely mindful of the teachings and admonitions in the revealed Word of God - the Holy Bible - at all times and bear them in mind always. Bearing them in mind always will lead us to do them always.

Now, note carefully that there are those who know these things on their inside but are neither FOCUSed nor push themselves (or rather PERSIST) to do what they know. The difference lies in the doing. You must do that what you know, that which you have read and received insight on in God's Word. Without doing, you are as good as the person who has not known.

Therefore, as I write this, I wish it to be in your remembrance always, but also to remind myself too, that we must FOCUS and PERSIST in the spiritually and physically needful issues so as not to miss the purpose of the Living God for our lives!

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR MEDITATION
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.... (Proverbs 3:1-35)

For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16)

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.... (James 1:1-27)

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying.... (Luke 18:1-8)

For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. (Deuteronomy 30:11, 14, 15-16)

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