Focusing on ourselves that will never reveal our life’s purpose.

Grace Bible Church
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Tree of Life
Weekly Review
The Supreme Court of Heaven
081918

Every now and then we need to be reminded of the real reason that we have been created. You have heard me say it many times throughout the years that we have been created for the distinct purpose of bringing glory to the Lord.

Let me show you some of these passages that describe the purpose why we have been created.

In REV 4:11, “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.”

ISA 43:7, “Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

ISA 43:21, “The people whom I formed for Myself, will declare My praise.”

ISA 43:25, “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.”

Notice the phrase “for My own sake”. Because there are many principles of doctrine that if God didn’t do all the work, then we would be in our sins!

ISA 37:35, “For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”

There are many things that the Lord has done not just for us but also for His own sake as well!

For example, ISA 48:9, “For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off.”

The Lord has been watching and protecting His people from apostasy and therefore many things He does, He does for His own sake!

As so, as we begin this morning to remind you of the many blessings that the Lord has provided for us because now and then we need to “count our blessings” because we realize that “all things start with God.

PSA 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;”

Now, as most of you know, one of my favorite translations of the Bible is the NASB (New American Standard Translation) which says in COL 1:16, For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created by Him and for Him.

If you have been listening to what I have been teaching you, then you know that I have been using what is known as the Message Bible Translation quite a bit recently!

Why?

Because it expands the original language to be more meaningful an understandable.

For example, in COL 1:16, the Message Bible says, For everything absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible. Everything got started by HIM and for HIM and find its purpose in HIM.

You see, the apostle Paul is saying “that It’s not about you!” Nor is it about me!

It is definitely a challenge for the believer to fulfill the purpose he or she is has been created. A key word this morning will be the word “purpose.”

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin, with God. You were born by His purpose and for His purpose.

The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. All because we begin at the wrong starting point-ourselves, instead of our Lord.

We ask self-centered questions like “What do I want to be?”

What should I do with my life?

What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future?

It is focusing on ourselves that will never reveal our life’s purpose. In fact, as a part of the plan of God, the main issue is who are we going to be occupied with, focusing in on ourselves or occupation with Christ!

Remember what our Lord said personally about trusting in man when He attended a wedding at His first Miracle in Cana.

JOH 2:23-25, Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, beholding His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man for He Himself  knew what was in man.

Our Lord knew ISA 1:5-6, Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick, And the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts, and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

Jeremiah taught this same principle in JER 17:9, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

King David learned this principle when he wrote a psalm or a song about the mere breath or vanity of man.

PSA 39:5-6, “Behold, Thou hast made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Thy sight, Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah. Surely every man walks about as a phantom; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; He amasses riches, and does not know who will gather them.

The apostle Paul knew this principle beginning with ROM 3:9-18, What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written,

There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless;

There is none who does good, There is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving, The poison of asps is under their lips” Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths,

And the path of peace have they not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

I think those passages prove the state of man who was born in sin with an OSN.