Living With Purpose by Matt Dobson
It started out as just another day with a room full of students working on their assignments. Then one of them got up and stepped to my desk. With a sincere expression on his face he asked me, “Coach Dobson, where is God?” I paused for a moment to see if he was joking, then said, “Do you want the world’s answer or do you want the hopeful answer that comes with knowing Him?” Those were my exact words. He said, “I want to know what I’m here for.” It was evident to me, at that moment, I was looking at a student that was on the verge of tapping into the very reason God had allowed him to be created. Aren’t these the ultimate questions in life—“What am I here for? Does my life really matter?”
One of the most recognizable Scriptures is the very first one: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The next verse says the earth was without form and void; darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. It’s recorded in the same chapter (v.27) God created man in his own image…male and female He created them. This is proof positive that God wanted us to be a part of His great plan called life. We were created by Him to have fellowship with Him and to glorify Him by our living. These are two great reasons for our existence. Not one person is a mistake and God’s original plan is to have each one of us to fulfill our eternal destiny. Finding your purpose requires a reliance on the Almighty God to open your eyes as you seek Him.
The Bible tells us to “seek and you will find…” (Matt. 7:7). And again it says in Philippians 4:19, “Seek God and His righteousness…God will give you everything you need because of His great riches in Christ Jesus.” That innate feeling in everyone’s consciousness of finding themselves has been placed there by God Himself. As we seek God, we find ourselves. In your journey of seeking God, your purpose is placed in your heart and the passion for doing your life’s work will be given incredible power to fufill. God’s responsibility is to give you what you NEED as you seek to do the things He wants you to do.
“Where is God?”… In heaven?-Yes. In a child’s laugh?-Yes. In a couple’s exchange of “I Love You”?-Yes. In the difficulties of life?-Yes. (Romans 8:28). God is not distant nor does He stay in some faraway place beyond the stars and the moon. God is alive and allows changes to accomplish good in the lives of people. God’s power can work in your life if you’re open to it. It’s always available and there for anybody under any circumstance. So, take a positive, optimistic mental approach toward every challenge. In direct proportion to the intensity of the faith you can exercise, will you receive power to handle your situation. “Then Jesus said, you will have what you want because you have faith” (Matt. 9:29).
In Ephesians 1:18-23, the apostle Paul writes: “I pray that your hearts will be able to understand…how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him…Christ is at God’s right side in heaven. God has put all things under Christ’s power and has made Him to be the head leader over all things of the church…it is filled by Him who fills all things everywhere with Himself.”
“Where is God?”—He is omnipresent (everywhere). And “How does He work?”—Consider these four (4) things: First, God Works IN His people. We are unable to please God by depending only on our own efforts. “For it is God which worketh IN you…helping you obey Him. God is doing what He wants done in you” (Phil. 2:13). Second, God Works FOR His people. In today’s selfishly motivated society Christians may feel they are alone in the battle for moral justice. Romans 8:31 says, “If God be FOR us, who can be against us?” We must remember that the omnipotent (able to do anything) God is with us and helping us do our part. “In all things God works FOR the good…”(Rom. 8:28). Third, God Works WITH His people. “For we work together WITH God. You are God’s field” (1 Cor. 3:9). Some people try to do God’s work single-handedly in their own power; they get discouraged and wonder why they fail. 2 Corinthians 6:1, “We are working together WITH God…don’t waste His loving favor.” God is at work and His power is infinite. He cannot be defeated. That means we’re “Champions with God”. Fourth, God Works THROUGH His people. It’s normal to feel inadequate to live life. Why?—Because it’s true. We were not meant to live without Him. Get up and don’t sit with folded hands while others do the work you were meant to do. You can accomplish something for God by appropriating His help. “God says, I will never let you be alone…we can say the Lord is my helper” (Heb. 13:5-6). While interacting with others we must believe God is speaking through us, giving us the right words, for the right person, at the right time and for the right reasons. Let your testimony be: “I can do all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
The conversation with my student on that day ended with me telling him that he had the capacity for faith and if he would be honest enough with himself and open up to God, he would know where God was. And that he would inwardly be able to feel God’s peace, joy, love, and goodness. If you will allow God to work in your life, He will flush away the sludge of fear, hate, weakness, and moral defeat that may be there. You will be left with a refreshed life that produces happiness. Find a church where you can work and worship, attend faithfully, and follow God in all your ways.
• This weekly column is written by Matt Dobson. A graduate of Florida State University, Univ. of West Florida, and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, he is Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Jay, Florida and a 1LT Chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves. Matt can be reached by email: rmdobson@liberty.edu. He welcomes your thoughts concerning faith, belief, and Christian living. Visit the Living With Purpose website at www.living-with-purpose.org.
