What's the outcome of all the time and energy we spend in life? Is it meaningful for a moment, a little while, or a little while longer? Is it meaningful at all? When we reach the end of our earthly journey, what will our lives yield?
We each have the opportunity to connect with a purpose greater than ourselves. God has specifically chosen the place and time in which we each live, and granted a season (a lifetime) for us to do all he intends. In fact, he's planned your days in advance, along with specific assignments, specific acts of goodness toward others, that only you can uniquely fulfill! He designed you with these things in mind. (See Acts 17:26, Psalm 139:13–16, and Ephesians 2:10 NIV.)
We aren’t made to pour all that we have and all that we are into marriage, kids, career, a white picket fence and a nice retirement account. These are beautiful gifts God may give in writing the story of our lives, but they aren't meant to be our end goal or ultimate source of satisfaction. Only a personal, tightly connected journey with God through life can truly fill us up (Psalm 73:26; Psalm 119:57; Lamentations 3:22–25; Isaiah 55:1–3). There’s a larger story of God that we’re all called into. We’re not meant to live for ourselves—we’re made for noble purposes.
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:20–21)
Giving ourselves to God cleanses us of living for mundane, or simply wrong, things. Say yes to him, and whatever plans he has for your life. If you don’t know him, receive his free gift of salvation in Christ (Romans 4:4–8, 23–25; 6:23). The “blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, [will] cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:14).
In 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul urges a younger believer, Timothy, to take this message of God’s salvation and share it, even though it would cost him persecution (2 Timothy 1:8). While many of us don’t face circumstances this severe, we’re still called to follow Christ on his mission “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). We’re here to build an eternal, spiritual kingdom, not our own, earthly one. Is your life truly centered around this mission, or something far less significant? When I help someone gain eternal life, I know my time counts.
Paul also tells Timothy to “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). When our lives are dedicated to walking with God, living his way, and serving others by helping where we can, there’s a richness and fullness to life that can’t be found in serving yourself. You’re made for noble purposes—get busy living!
