Wrestling with purpose.

Last night I read this quote in the latest book I have been reading:

"Wrestling with a sense of purpose is unique to humanity"

Right now, I will not reveal the name of the book, as it is the book I will be reviewing at a later date. So for right now you do not know the context of this statement. But just consider this statement for a bit. The fact that you struggle with what you were made for is a struggle that no other creature has. It is unique to you.

"Wrestling with a sense of purpose..."

The author of this book talks talks about Ecclesiastes - the book in the Bible concerned with the meaninglessness of life. Everything here on earth is meaningless. All of it will pass away. And because we know the end is death, we feel as if we don't have any purpose.

But this is a struggle that should only be unique to non-Christians.

Why would I say that? Well, you have hope if you believe in the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save you from your sins. And this salvation and forgiveness for all the bad stuff you have done means you are gonna have something to put your hope in: an eternity with God. We still must face physical death because we live in a sinful world and sinful bodies. But something waits on the other side.

For those who do not trust in Jesus, they have a struggle only unique to them, where they can find meaning and purpose. Not to say Christians don't wrestle with this either, but is often because, in our sin, our perspective is a little hazy. All to often, we have to remind our hearts and our minds of this living hope we can have.

So what is your purpose? You know you have a Saviour who died for you, who showed love for you, so the book says we must love as well - God and others. And you would have seen this in my last post "Others vs. Self". However, I would argue that is not only this broad "love" we can have but we can return to our true and created purpose, so beautifully summarised in the first answer of the Westminster Confession of Faith (which is basically my life quote): "to glorify and enjoy him forever". We were made to praise him, to thank him for all he has done in our lives. But we were also made to enjoy him for all eternity. Know this as your hope. Be content with your purpose.

"...is unique to humanity."

But, as this book points out, the birds know what they are to do, and they don't sit around philosophically considering how then they should live. Why then are we so unique? Why then do we think deeply?

1. Well, I guess we've established that our minds have been marred by sin and so our perspective and sense of purpose is a little fuzzy.

2. But remember also, all those other creatures were not made in the image of God. They did not have minds, which were allowed free will in the Garden of Eden. They were not given rule over all the other animals - that role was given to mankind. So mankind is unique already

3. Maybe it is because we have created so many opportunities, because we have so much creative freedom, because we are allowed to act within God's plan that we struggle to know where we fit in or where our purpose comes from.

4. Maybe because God also, in the mystery of his eternal plan and our own choices as well, has given us the opportunity to either accept or rebel against him. But the animals must rely on the mighty hand of God to provide for them and pretty much always trust that God will sustain them.

5. Maybe it is because we have souls, that - in our belief or our rebellion against him - actually give a purpose that extends beyond this life. Animals do not have life beyond this life. It is actually God's gift to humanity. We are so much more valued than they that we have souls. And this "little fact" is actually what allows us to think "hmm...I have a greater purpose in this life: it is determine what my next life will be like". Animals have this life and nothing else.

I think all these reasons kinda combine together to establish why we so easily wrestle with our purpose.

In Conclusion

In an attempt to keep this blog post short and only a summary of some of the thoughts pulsing through my veins (and brain), I just wanted to conclude with a question: Have you found your purpose in life, or do you still wrestle? Life is incredibly meaningless without the perspective of eternity. But I guess the real question is, what kinda eternity do you want to live? Heaven is open for those who find their purpose in turning to God for salvation and forgiveness and living for him. Hell, unfortunately, is for those who purpose seems to be the blatant rejection of God as ruler, which will never satisfy.

Love y'all lots, and think deeply about your purpose!