The WHOLE PURPOSE
If you have ever been a part of the world of education, then you are aware this season of change: anticipation, goodbyes, tears, smiles, stages to walk across, cheers and applause, and trying to answer the imminent question: Now what? The Bible has much to say about our present, our past, and our future. From the beginning, it was the LORD HIMSELF who gave man the answer to that question.
“Then the LORD God took the man
(Genesis 2:15 NAS)
[the man the LORD God had created from the dust of the earth]
and put him into the garden of Eden
[the land God had established for man]
to cultivate and keep it
[the LORD’S purpose for the man’s hands to do].”
This is Finals Week. As I walk across campus, it’s easy to hear the roar of lawnmowers as groundskeepers prepare the campus for the arrival of family members who will come to campus. The instructors and professors are administering & grading final exams. After the time of graduation, then comes the celebrations, parties, and goodbyes. Yesterday, the tears came to one student, even while another boldly proclaimed: “It’s too early for tears. I’m going to wait until we say goodbye.”
For one student, after finishing her final exam, she stood, and I could sense the heaviness of her heart, for she was flying home to Africa. Lord willing, she will return to America for the fall semester; however, she will be transferring to a new campus in August, so our hug goodbye was truly GOODBYE.
For other students, who graduate on Saturday, they will pack some items and give away other things they no longer need, as they prepare to transition from university student to graduate. They will walk across the stage, collect their degree, shake administration members’ hands, pose for photos, and celebrate this tremendous accomplishment. Then, once the celebrations are through, the students will say goodbye to a season of life, truly GOODBYE.
As mentioned earlier, God’s Word speaks a great deal about our past, present, and future. In fact, the LORD gave many words to write to His servant, the apostle Paul.
“For not one of us lives for himself,
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 14: 7-9 NAS)
and not one dies for himself;
for if we live, we live for the Lord,
or if we die, we die for the Lord;
therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For to this end Christ died and lived again,
that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”
Believers are called to do everything ‘as unto the Lord.’
EVERY—THING!
- If we move our bodies, then our actions are to reflect ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we drive students to the airport to catch their flights home, then we ought to transport them ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we teach VBS or Sunday School, work in our community, lead mission teams, sing in the choir & study the Word of God, then we are to do all, serving in humility within the church, ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we open our mouths to speak, then our words must be ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we are raising our children who are maturing, changing, and walking through seasons of life, we must nurture them ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we make decisions for the good of others, then our motivations must be ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we are caring for our elderly parents, honoring them as the Bible commands, then we must lift a helping hand ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we have a thought, then our attitude must be ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we commune with the Holy Spirit in our heart, then our meditations are to be ‘as unto the Lord.’
- If we speak words the Spirit brings to our lips, sharing the gospel message, then we must speak ‘as unto the Lord.’
Get the picture?
Musical artist Forrest Frank sings an applicable melody, one that will get us up and moving our feet as we dance ‘as unto the Lord.’ Grab your earbuds and listen to “CELEBRATION.”
The WHOLE PURPOSE, the WHOLE REASON for JESUS’ death and resurrection was to fulfill His role as Lord (of the living and the dead), to those who believe in Him & to those who trust in the Holy name of JESUS.
So, let us ask ourselves these questions:
- What should our Christian life look like?
- Are we walking worthy of Him?
- Does His scrutiny of us matter?
- Is His divine approval & His righteous disapproval important to us?
- Would we be ashamed if God caught us in a particular action or frame of mind?
- Is our behavior, our intentions—an accurate reflection of God’s Holy Name?
Are we fully dependent and fully submitted to our Father?
Are we doing EVERY—THING ‘as unto the Lord’ ?
The ordinary work we do, the special events we attend, the births, the funerals, the dinners we prepare, the walks we take, the visits we make, the ‘whatever’ we purpose for our bodies to do—EVERY—THING—must be ‘as unto the Lord.’
“Whatever you do,
(The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 3: 23 NAS)
do your work heartily,
as for the Lord rather than for men.”
Therefore, if you are still reading and now wondering:
- How can any of this apply to you? & How can any of this be applicable to the of graduation of students from the university?
Then consider the Truth of our EVERY—THING.
- There is never any ‘ordinary’ work.
Because there is only working as a way to praise God.
- There is never any ‘ordinary’ conversation.
Because there is only speaking as a way to honor God.
- There are never any ‘ordinary’ days.
Because there is only walking through life as a way to worship God.
TRULY, THIS IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES!
Help us, Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, learn to live each day for Your glory, to bring praise and honor to You.
In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, Amen.
“For we are His workmanship,
(The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 2: 10 NAS)
[we are what God has made us to be]
created in Christ Jesus for good works
[we are created in Him & by Him],
which God prepared beforehand
[God purposed exactly His will for our lives]
so that we would walk in them
[this ought to be our way of life].”