Living Life On Purpose

Scripture Passage: Isaiah 45

Is there really such a thing as a coincidence?

Your car breaks down on a lonely stretch of highway. Your cell phone is dead and no houses or people can be seen in any direction. You look up and ask God for help. Suddenly a long, black limousine pulls up. Out of the door steps ... name the most outrageous celebrity or politician with who you would disagree on most every issue of life ... and offers you a lift.

What would you do - accept or decline - and why? ^a

Someone once said, "A coincidence is when God is at work but chooses to remain anonymous." If you need help and you have a relationship with:

The God who created all things and has all wisdom and power to help (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:1-3).
The One who brings you into an eternal relationship with Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
The One who has said that He would never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
The One who promised to help us in our times of trial (Hebrews 4:16).

In a relationship with someone like this, you should expect that He will help you. What you be prepared for is the way that God will help you. He may not seem to be helping at all by outward appearances.

God acts on purpose in a world that often seems purposeless...

The Israelites would be taken into bondage by the Babylonians. They too would cry out for help for 70 years. God had a purpose for this horrible experience and He did not leave His people helpless. When the time was right, He used an ungodly king to help His people.

1. God acts with purpose in the life of the ungodly (Cyrus).

¹ This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut ... ¹³ I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the LORD Almighty. (Isaiah 45:1,13, NIV)

Who was Cyrus? At the time Isaiah prophesied this passage, he was literally a nobody. Cyrus would not be born for another 150 years. After a murderous threat from his grandfather, the king of Media, Cyrus was rescued and raised by a shepherd. He eventually formed an army of Persians and defeated both his father and grandfather. He became king of the Medes and the Persians - the Medo-Persian empire was born. It was this empire at the hand of Cyrus that defeated the Babylonians.^b

God had a purpose in the life of Cyrus before He was even born.

God's Purpose for Cyrus: To bring judgment to Israel's enemies and bring God's people home.

² I will go before you and will level the mountains ; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. ³ I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. ⁴ For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. ⁵ I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, ⁶ so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:2-6, NIV)

Who is going to do these things in Cyrus' life?

From v1, the "LORD" - the One who created all things.
In this passage the LORD says, "I will," "I will," "I summon ... and bestow," "I will"

Cyrus had a life to live but God was at work in an extraordinary way.

God gave Cyrus wealth and power to rule. His purpose: "so that you may know that I am the LORD" (v3). Cyrus was not a believer - "you do not acknowledge me" (v4), "you have not acknowledged me" (v5). This is an example of God pursuing Cyrus with grace and kindness.

In fact, God gave wealth and power to Cyrus in such a grand way that it would cause people to marvel and acknowledge the LORD as the one true God (v6).

Can God use ungodly people to accomplish His will?

God is holy and His purpose is holy
An unrighteous, ungodly person can be used by God to accomplish His holy purpose.

There is a big picture view of God's plan for people in this world. Within that plan, He has both His express will (specific commands He gives us) and His permissive will (things He doesn't desire for us but allows us to do anyway). God did not cause Cyrus to be ungodly but used his life choices to bring about certain results. One of those results was to help His people, freeing them from captivity in Babylon.

The Israelites prayed many times for God to deliver them. Little did they know how God would answer that prayer. Ezra 1:1-4 shows the remarkable way that God fulfilled this promise spoken through Isaiah:

¹ In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: ² "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: " 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. ³ Anyone of his people among you—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. ⁴ And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.' " (Ezra 1:1-4, NIV)

Has God ever answered your earnest prayers in a way that confused you? ^c

Thankfully, God knows everything and He knows and desires what is best for you and for His creation. Somehow He manages to keep that in perfect balance - unlike Jim Carrey in the movie Bruce Almighty where he plays a man who receives God's power for a few days. Everyone who prays to win the lottery wins - about $1 each. Somehow God rises far above our petty wishes and brings us His best in spite of our attempts to circumvent His best.

Keep in mind that if God can work through an ungodly foreigner, how much more so will He work in the life of His own children?

2. God acts with purpose in everything He does.

⁷I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. ⁸ You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it. (Isaiah 45:7-8, NIV)

When our all-powerful God could prevent so many tragedies, why does He seem to be asleep at the wheel?

I remember being in Dayton, Ohio in the late 1990's after another of their infamous floods. I remarked to the receptionist in the office building, "I wonder if this flood is part of God's judgment on America for its immorality and spritual apathy?" Her eyes got as large as beach balls as she said, "Oh no, God would never do that!" I never got to finish that conversation with her. But God says in verse 7, "I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things" (Isaih 45:7, NIV).

God has a plan that includes His sovereign rule and individual freedom and responsibility. Within the sphere of His sovereign rule, He permits things to happen that, frankly, astonish most people.

What is God's purpose for His creation?

Look at verse 8. God is the Creator of all things. This verse says His creation was made for righteousness and salvation.

The creation we live in was never intended to sustain evil - in fact, it cannot. Whether or not global warming is real or just a cycle, we know that:

Pollution is real.
Stripping the land of grass and trees is real.
Murder is real.
People taking advantage of others is real.
Governments oppressing its citizens is real.
Countries that starve their citizens but build expensive nuclear weapons are real.

All of these are real and God's creation was never intended for these things. It is sad but the only thing that mankind is capable of creating on its own is evil.

In spite of this, God acts with purpose. Is it to bring evil into the creation? Absolutely not! God's purpose for creation is salvation and righteousness. It is to these ends that He works.

How has God used success or prosperity in your life?

Wealth is test of your faith. Will you continue to acknowledge your dependence on Him and praise Him? Will you be a good steward of what He's given you, being content and being generous?

How does knowing God acts with purpose in His creation affect you during a trial (disaster)?

He has something to teach you during this time.
It's easy to trust God when times are good. Will you continue to trust Him when you are hurting and do not understand?
Don't get bitter, get better!

Be prepared. You are either in a trial, been through a trial, or you are about to go through a trial. Jesus said:

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33, NIV)

So if God never changes (Malachi 3:6) and is in control, can your life ever be out of control?

Not really - only in your own limited perspective.
God is at work to fulfill His purpose even when your life seems out of control.
Instead of asking "why?" during these times you need to ask "what?" - what can I learn from this? How can I become a more effective servant through this?

3. God gives you purpose in life.

⁹ "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'? ¹⁰ Woe to him who says to his father, 'What have you begotten?' or to his mother, 'What have you brought to birth?' (Isaiah 45:9-10, NIV)

Do you ever question why God made you the way you are?

First, you can't do anything about it - what's done is done. Second, it would do no good to complain because, after all, God is God and there is no other. Far better to simply accept yourself as God made you and strive each day to become more like Jesus in faith, hope and love.

God has a purpose for Y-O-U: He made you so that you could willingly enter into a loving relationship with Him - and you come just as you are, just as He made you.

Purpose is defined as your reason something exists or is made. It is also the intended result or goal.^d Purpose defines the things you do in life. For example:

If God has gifted you to teach, what is your purpose? To teach.
If God has gifted you with administrative talents, what is your purpose? To manage or govern or lead.

You may be designed and gifted for one specific thing in life. Or you may be able to fulfill many different callings based on God's purpose for you. That is the wonderful part of God's unique design for each individual.

So what is God's purpose for you individually?

God provides you with eternal life - a loving relationship with Him in which you are secure forever. This makes it possible to fulfill your purpose. Without Him, you cannot fulfill your purpose
God provides you with spiritual gifts - these enable you to fulfill your purpose.
God provides spiritual disciplines - worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, and ministry - that allow you to express your purpose.
Your specific purpose: multifaceted.

If you are married, what is your purpose?
--- faithful spouse
If you are a parent, what is your purpose?
--- compassionate shepherd
If you have a job, what is your purpose?
--- diligent worker

How does knowing your purpose affect the choices you make?

Helps you stay focused
Provides direction
Gives you determination to remain faithful

Living life on purpose - that is, for God's purpose - means staying focused on what God has made you to do do, designed you to accomplish, and called you to fulfill. Keeping your purpose clear will help you avoid anything that would distract you or bring you down.

Jesus was the ultimate example of a purposeful life:

⁴⁹ For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. ⁵⁰ I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. (John 12:49-50, NIV)

³⁰ I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, ³¹ but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. (John 14:30-31, NIV)

How does understanding the big picture of God's purpose for your life change:

The way you look at life circumstances?
The way you live in prosperous times?
The way you live in desperate times?
The way you relate to other people?

Conclusion

Understanding God's purpose for you causes you to live a purposeful life. How you think, how you speak, how you relate to others, and the things that you do will all reflect God's desire for righteousness and salvation in His creation.

End Notes:

^c Ibid. Explore the Bible Teaching Plan. Paraphrased introduction question.

^d purpose. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved April 15, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/purpose