Discovering that our lives have meaning because of God's divine pursuit.
Dr. Alex Rosenberg, in his book *The Atheist's Guide to Reality*, asserts that there is no purpose or design in nature. Without God, purpose becomes a mere human invention. He writes:
*"There are no purposes or designs in nature. Newtonian physics banished them from reality. Darwinian biology explained away their appearance everywhere... In a universe of electrons and selfish genes, blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice."*
But thank God, the physical facts do not fix all the facts! Rather, our Creator, the Triune God of love, has a good and honorable purpose for his Creation.
**So what is God's purpose for us?**
In our last lesson, we looked at what Jesus told Nicodemus: spiritual transformation is the work of God's Spirit. Today I want to draw our attention to what comes next in this famous passage. John comments:
*"For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."*
Jesus doesn't offer "new belief" so much as he offers "eternal life." Jesus is the light of the world, and those who trust in Him live in the light. Trusting in Jesus leads us to live in the light. We turn from lies to the truth. We experience God's supernatural life within us. As God renovates our lives, we devote ourselves to loving God and our neighbors.
**God is on an uncommon pursuit, imbuing all of creation with a mission and purpose.**
Our lives have meaning because of this divine pursuit. But it is not like a distant boss urging us to work harder. Rather, through Jesus, our life's work—our purpose—is accomplished by God's Spirit at work within our spirits.
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.
How does the idea that God gives your life purpose change how you see your daily activities?
Consider the role of sin in your life. Does it help or hinder your purpose?
What does it mean to you that Jesus came to save, not condemn?
Write down three ways you see God's purpose working in your life right now.
Ask Jesus not only to forgive you but also to cleanse and empower you to live for God's glory.
Get a daily, five-minute Bible study to discuss with a friend.
121 friends have opened a study shared with them.