20
December 2015 • SR
Earlier this year I enrolled in the course
Perspectives on
World Christian Movement
and found that it was primarily
about purpose. As human beings, we rationalize and act
upon an understanding of God’s reason for us becoming
Christians and our purpose as Christians. The reality is
that God’s actions and interactions are purpose-filled and
we are meant to live in His purpose.
Between Genesis 1 and 11, we find the narrative of the earli-
est timeline of the human race: its birth (creation — Genesis
1-2); its degeneration (through sin — Genesis 3); and its
division into different language groups (Babel, Genesis
11:1-9). God’s actions in these situations were carried out
with love and mercy, though not always seen on the face
of it. As a result of man’s willful disobedience, God expelled
them from paradise and later divided them into diverse
groups as ways of retarding their actions in pursuit of sig-
nificance in and for themselves. As a part of His restorative
plan, God later commissioned Abram to initiate the process
of reuniting all peoples of the earth together, unto Himself.
An exercise in hope, significance and purpose.
God’s covenant with Abram in Genesis 12 disclosed His
purpose for every people. In making the covenant with
Abram, God promised to bless him and his descendants
(seed). Abram and his seed were to then serve as a channel
through which God's blessings could flow to the rest of the
world. “.
..and all peoples on earth will be blessed through
you,”
Genesis 12:3b. We have much to be thankful for.
God’s purpose and work is to bless the world with His
salvation, hence,
“God…sent his son Jesus to us firstly to
bless us,”
Acts 3:26.
Though not all promises are immediately fulfilled, God is
steadfast in love and faithfulness. Abraham and Sarah
died
“not having received the promises, but having seen
them afar off,”
Hebrews 11:13a. Although Isaac was born to
them in fulfillment of God’s promise, their seed was not yet
numerous, nor were the nations as yet blessed. We may not
now see God’s promises for us fulfilled but let us be patient
knowing that God is faithful and can do all things.
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:29
As heirs of God’s promise to Abraham, we are therefore
expected to produce other seeds. Matthew 24:14 declares
that the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world. Taking on God’s purpose is even made clearer with
the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20a:
“Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you:”
This brings into greater focus the cohesion and seamless-
ness of the Bible expressing God’s purpose. His purpose is
reuniting all peoples of the earth together, unto Himself —
making a solid foundation on which a person can build a
relationship with Christ to ultimately join God’s cause.
His purpose propels sinners (through His Holy Spirit) to
want to experience the blessing, and Christians into action
to share the blessing.
“We were made to live for purpose.
God Himself lives for purpose. The way to live with signifi-
cance is to devote yourself to a purpose that is larger than
your life.”
(Perspectives on World Christian Movement).
Declaring God’s blessing in Christ is our purpose, this and
all seasons.
— Garfield Miller
Missions Coordinator
Clinton R. Brown
Executive Director
FOCUS on Missions
God's Purpose For People - Through His People
“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power
and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
(Exodus 9:16)
SR
