Living With Purpose
A couple was devasted when they both lost their jobs and were left with a mountain of debt. Just when they were coming to terms with it all, their septic tank collapsed and the entire back yard caved in. Not having the money needed to hire the repairs done, the husband jumped to the task and decided to do it himself. As he was digging, he noticed something glistening in the dirt. He picked it up and found it to be a gold coin. Excitedly, he continued to dig and unearthed several more of the valuable coins. After they were all appraised, the husband and wife team were $1.5 million richer. What they considered a tragedy, God used to get glory! Many people want to give up on God when the going gets rough or they think life is so unfair that no hope will conquer their ill-fate. Everything God does in your life, or allows to happen in your life, is His way of maturing you into the image of His Son, Jesus. This truth is distinctly stated in Ephesians 4:13 where it says, “This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”
However, we continue to marvel at the trouble God allows to come our way. God’s plan, even as we struggle, is to help us know our higher purpose for living. Be sure that God sees your trials, temptations, and tears. God’s Word is very specific when it says this: “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (Psalm 56:8). Regardless of where life leads, be faithfully and loyally sure that God is still in control of all that happens. There’s no such thing as coincidence in the life of the child of God. There’s only providence!
Yet, we ask, why is Christ worthy of our faith when troubles are mounting against us? Because he is familiar with our problems. Some may ask, “How can Jesus know what I’m going through? He’s up in heaven! How can he possibly feel what I feel?” He’s able to know what we feel because he once lived a physical life on earth and experienced hardships and sufferings. He understands your temptations, rejection, need, and poverty. Jesus knows grief and what it is like to lose someone you love. He can help in times of loss. And he understands loneliness because he knows what it’s like to have no one around him who understands what he’s going through. He knows what it means to hurt alone, and he knows how to help you through those troubled times of loneliness also.
Positive thinking in a spiritual sense will tell you to “Keep the F-A-I-T-H!” If you do, your testimony will become: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7). You can keep faith by letting the following traits characterize you and your personality. Doing so will allow your F-A-I-T-H to soar even in the midst of chaos.
Forgiving. Some people hold grudges and can’t forgive while wondering why trouble always seems to find them. We must forgive. Forgiving others enables us to receive God’s forgiveness and to keep the faith. The Bible reminds us, “When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (Mark 11:25-26).
Accommodating. We demonstrate our faith as we care about the needs of others. Praying for the sick, assisting the weak, and helping the poor—these are the benchmarks of an active Christian faith.
Involved. When people avoid church attendance, duties, and assignments, their faith dwindles, and they become subject to the world’s way of thinking. We can’t be a faithful Christian when we chose to worship and witness only when it’s convenient for us. Our faith comes alive as we live and move for God.
Trustworthy. If we’re trustworthy, we will be rewarded with the strength of faith, the assurance of hope, and the power of love. Treat the trust of others as a valuable commodity to be protected.
Holy. Only those completely surrendered to God and give Him first place, will be able to keep faith through every circumstance and trials of life. The Bible says, “May the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
Have you been tempted lately to “lose faith”? If so, is it because the load you’ve been carrying is just too heavy? Don’t be so quick to listen to the whispers of Satan and foolish people who have told you to give up on God. Never give up! Christ is ready, willing, and able to give you all that you need to get through whatever you’re facing. Trust Jesus with your problems, by faith. Keep the faith by letting him have his way in your life. He is truly all you will ever need!
• This bi-weekly column is written by Matthew Dobson. He’s a Public Health Services Manager for the State of Florida, former U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain, and the Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in the New York, Florida community. His “Living With Purpose” Book series can be found and purchased on www. Amazon.com. You can contact him by email: rmdobson@liberty.edu.
