Have you ever wondered what the purpose of your life’s journey is? Is your life all about you? What are you doing in life that will ensure you will live in perfect love, joy, and peace for eternity?
There is nothing imperfect people can do on their own to ensure they will live in heaven once they die except to choose to surrender their life to Christ and follow all of his ways. God’s greatest gift and privilege to all saved is the opportunity to live with Christ in us in our imperfections and share his saving message.
Our Life’s Journey is Part of God’s Grand Plan
God handcrafted each person in their mother’s womb for His purpose—to live with us now and for eternity. God’s purpose allows each person to choose to have a deep relationship with Him and Jesus and be transformed by their loving grace. God also created us to have a part in his eternal grand plan as we seek and obey his direction and fulfill our missions while praising and bringing Him honor. As we love and serve God and Jesus, we have the opportunity to fulfill the great commission.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20, NIV)
If our life is not part of God's grand plan, why did he make us from his love and in his image? "So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (Gen. 1:27, NLT)
If God’s love didn’t give us the freedom to choose to love and obey him, how could it be pure, unconditional, perfect love? God created us with the freedom to choose. God also made a way for us to dwell with him for eternity, even if we don’t start out choosing to believe and serve him through Jesus Christ.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17, NIV)
What Does Living with Christ Look Like?
Jesus is fully God, and he was fully man. This fact means that God chose to come down to earth in the form of Jesus and live among us. Jesus experienced the good and bad of people and their choices in the world. He knew the challenges we would face as we followed and obeyed him. He also showed us that as we love and serve God first, Jesus will help us walk our path of transformation and bring God glory.
As Jesus lived and taught among us, he showed us that we would experience persecution for believing and following him. However, he also promised never to leave us and that nothing could ever separate us from his love. (Rom. 8:38-39 He also gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us, convict us when we sin, and empower us to spiritually overcome our challenges.
So what is the point of following Jesus if we still have struggles, tests, temptations, and persecution? Whether you are an unbeliever or believer, no one escapes the earth’s brokenness, evil, imperfect human condition, and painful realities. Do you want to face all of that alone? Would you rather walk through it with the creator of the universe and Jesus, who ensures your eternity?
God doesn't make mistakes, and He doesn't waste time or any part of our life experiences. "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." (1 Cor. 15:58, NLT)
I have personally experienced how God has used the lessons I have learned to help others. If we have never experienced loss or pain, how can we help others during their life’s storm? All God allows in our lives is to strengthen our reliance on Him and guide us to work with Jesus to be transformed into his likeness. When you work with Jesus, he can use everything to teach, equip, strengthen, mature, and empower us to overcome spiritually and help others with what we have learned. Scripture says.
All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. (2 Cor. 1:4-5, MSG)
The Rewards of Living with Christ
The greatest desire of God and Jesus is to dwell with you every day now and into eternity. The most incredible privilege imperfect people have is to dwell with Christ every day. We can walk hand in hand with our Father, God, and our Savior, Jesus, through every challenge that comes our way. All we have to do is:
"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom. 10:9, NLT)
Jesus is coming back for us. His resurrection is proof that his promises are true. His heart is that every person would believe!
"The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." (2 Peter 3:9, NLT)
"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you so that you will always be with me where I am." (John 14:1-3, NLT)
