What is my purpose in life? What am I here for, what am I designed for? What role do I play? These questions can swirl about often in our minds, especially when a close friend or family member passes on. The passing of a friend or loved one forces us to consider where we stand in life and where we are headed; “that will be me someday.” I think about these matters a lot, in my middle age years, with every obituary I read and funeral I attend – do you?
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:17, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” In Christ, your life is assigned and appointed to you, specifically. It is a life He has called you to, this place and these tasks. God’s will cannot be thwarted, and He doesn’t make mistakes. If you are in Christ, God made you and placed you where you’re at, assigning you your lot in life, calling you. It is a great adventure, a great privilege, a great responsibility, even with great rejection and affliction and sufferings at times, but in the end, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What life has the Lord assigned and called you to?
Obituaries and funerals are lessons for you – your time will come, and you don’t know when that will be. Trust in Christ as Lord and Savior. His death is payment for your rebellion and sin against God. Without Christ, His wrath and punishment rest upon you. What will you say on the day you meet Him face to face? Escape the judgment that is to come and be found “not guilty” in Christ. If you are in Christ, faithfully lead the life the Lord has assigned to you and called you to. Press in hard, “don’t back up, don’t back down, work full-throttle and wide open.” Cherish, worship, and celebrate the day-to-day moments that you have. Make it something worthy that you can look back on when you are older, giving glory to God. This is the answer to the questions, “What is my purpose in life? What am I here for, what am I designed for? What role do I play?” To lead the life that the Lord has assigned you, to which God has called you.