Our Purpose
At 703 last night, Brad spoke the message instead of Tony. I've only heard Brad 'preach' or 'teach', whatever you want to call it, once before. Since then I can see the gradual improvements. What he talked about last night though was really amazing and really touched my heart.
Brad spoke about "Our Purpose." What is the reason why we are here and what is it that we are supposed to do with our lives. He began by defining what the secular world has said that our purpose is. In a world where there is no supreme being or creator and life and everything merely happened by accident.. *BANG*.. the purpose for which we exist is our job, our occupation, our career. What we do defines our purpose. However, the reality is that we exist in a world where there is a God who created everything around us, including us.
Colossians 1:15-16 "He [Christ] existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. 16Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see--kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him."
It is then not what we do, as in our job, that defines us, but how we do it. Because I am an artist, a Costume Designer/Technician and student. This does not assign my purpose. I was not born to create art or sew costumes. It is something that pleases me and something I am passionate about. My purpose is to do what I do for the Glory of God. My purpose is to being glory to Jesus in whatever it is that I do. Whether some day I decide to get married, to have children, to travel the world, to write a book... whatever. In all that I choose to do, I am to do it to the best of my ability for the pleasure and glorification of the Father.
I have to agree with Brad. There is an amazing freedom in knowing this. I can do basically whatever tantilizes my little heart and the Lord will back me up as long as I remember to bring him glory through it. I am filled with an awesome sense of power and confidence.
Brad closed his message for us with a short story. It's about a young boy who's father took him to the beach one day. The little boy was so excited and loved his father very much. He wanted to express this by building his daddy a sand castle. So with all his energy and creativity, he set out to make one. He worked away at it creating not quite perfect walls or towers. Yet he was pleased with what his tiny hands were making. The father watched his son with love and fondness, knowing that the little boy was trying with all his might. A few yards away, a young man came out onto the beach and decided he'd make a sand castle as well. He built a beautiful castle with tall towers, perfected walls, and intricate patterns. People were so impressed that they began to take notice and watch the young man at work. He signed it and flaunted about his masterpiece. Then, the sun began to set and the tide began to roll in. Slowly it inched its way up the shore towards the two sand castles. The young man became frantic about losing his wonderful creation. He furiously dug trenches and moat to keep the ever rising ocean at bay. Yet the waves continued to come and little by little what once was this young man's hard spent time, was little more than a mound of wet sand. He was left amidst the rubble, covered in the mess created by clumps of sand and ocean water. Not to far away, the little boys castle was being washed away as well. The little boy however, sat back on the beach away from the reach of the lapping tide. He watched in contentment as the sand castle he had built for his father drifted into the ocean. He watched the sky turn and shine with the brilliance of a beach sunset. And when it was all over, his father took him by the hand and lead him home.
At 703 last night, Brad spoke the message instead of Tony. I've only heard Brad 'preach' or 'teach', whatever you want to call it, once before. Since then I can see the gradual improvements. What he talked about last night though was really amazing and really touched my heart.
Brad spoke about "Our Purpose." What is the reason why we are here and what is it that we are supposed to do with our lives. He began by defining what the secular world has said that our purpose is. In a world where there is no supreme being or creator and life and everything merely happened by accident.. *BANG*.. the purpose for which we exist is our job, our occupation, our career. What we do defines our purpose. However, the reality is that we exist in a world where there is a God who created everything around us, including us.
Colossians 1:15-16 "He [Christ] existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. 16Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see--kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him."
It is then not what we do, as in our job, that defines us, but how we do it. Because I am an artist, a Costume Designer/Technician and student. This does not assign my purpose. I was not born to create art or sew costumes. It is something that pleases me and something I am passionate about. My purpose is to do what I do for the Glory of God. My purpose is to being glory to Jesus in whatever it is that I do. Whether some day I decide to get married, to have children, to travel the world, to write a book... whatever. In all that I choose to do, I am to do it to the best of my ability for the pleasure and glorification of the Father.
I have to agree with Brad. There is an amazing freedom in knowing this. I can do basically whatever tantilizes my little heart and the Lord will back me up as long as I remember to bring him glory through it. I am filled with an awesome sense of power and confidence.
Brad closed his message for us with a short story. It's about a young boy who's father took him to the beach one day. The little boy was so excited and loved his father very much. He wanted to express this by building his daddy a sand castle. So with all his energy and creativity, he set out to make one. He worked away at it creating not quite perfect walls or towers. Yet he was pleased with what his tiny hands were making. The father watched his son with love and fondness, knowing that the little boy was trying with all his might. A few yards away, a young man came out onto the beach and decided he'd make a sand castle as well. He built a beautiful castle with tall towers, perfected walls, and intricate patterns. People were so impressed that they began to take notice and watch the young man at work. He signed it and flaunted about his masterpiece. Then, the sun began to set and the tide began to roll in. Slowly it inched its way up the shore towards the two sand castles. The young man became frantic about losing his wonderful creation. He furiously dug trenches and moat to keep the ever rising ocean at bay. Yet the waves continued to come and little by little what once was this young man's hard spent time, was little more than a mound of wet sand. He was left amidst the rubble, covered in the mess created by clumps of sand and ocean water. Not to far away, the little boys castle was being washed away as well. The little boy however, sat back on the beach away from the reach of the lapping tide. He watched in contentment as the sand castle he had built for his father drifted into the ocean. He watched the sky turn and shine with the brilliance of a beach sunset. And when it was all over, his father took him by the hand and lead him home.
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