Understanding Our Purpose as Created Beings
Many often struggle with the question of why we exist and what our purpose is. We may wonder if we are just a random occurrence, or if there is something more to our existence. However, by turning to scripture, we can find answers to these fundamental questions about our being.
In Genesis 1:27, we are told that God created mankind in His own image. This powerful verse highlights that we are not the result of a random, cosmic accident, but rather a deliberate creation of God. This means that our existence has significance and purpose. It also means that we have a special relationship with God, as we are made in His image.
When we read Genesis 2:7, 21-22, we see that God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. This process shows that God not only created us, but also intimately and intentionally crafted us from the very elements of the earth. He gave us the breath of life, setting us aside from all of the rest of creation, giving us great worth.
As created beings, we are inherently below our Creator. The very act of creation implies a hierarchy between the Creator and the creation, with the Creator being above us in power, authority, morality, and knowledge. However, this does not mean that we are insignificant or meaningless. In fact, our very existence as created beings implies that we have purpose
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When something is created, it is created with a purpose. The clock to tell time, the painting to be admired, music to inspire; all of these are made with a specific purpose in mind. The same goes for mankind. We were deliberately created by God in His own image, according to Genesis 1:27. In Psalm 100:3, we read that the Lord has made us, and not we ourselves. This means that we were not accidents, but rather we were created with intention and purpose. This realization should be reassuring to us. We are not here by chance, but rather by design.
According to Ephesians 2:10, we are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus for good works. This verse emphasizes the fact that every person has a specific purpose, and that purpose includes good works. We are not just created to exist, but rather to walk in the good works that God has prepared for us.
The verse also shows that God has prepared these good works beforehand, indicating that He has a plan for our lives. This plan includes fulfilling the purpose for which we were created, and that purpose includes doing good works. By doing these good works, we are living out our purpose and bringing glory to God.
It is important to note that the good works mentioned in Ephesians 2:10 are not works that we create for ourselves, but rather works that God has prepared for us. We must seek God's will and guidance in order to fulfill our purpose and walk in the good works that He has prepared for us. When we fulfill our purpose and do the good works that God has called us to, we are living a life that honors and glorifies Him.
While our purpose as created beings comes from God, we have the freedom to choose whether or not we will fulfill that purpose. We can choose to reject God's plan for our lives and go our own way, or we can choose to align ourselves with His will and seek to fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
With the understanding that we have a purpose, it is equally important to realize that with that purpose comes an obligation. When we are created, we are given a purpose by our Creator. This is not just some aimless existence, but a deliberate intention with a plan in mind. This intention carries an obligation to fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
This obligation is not a choice, but a responsibility that comes with being a created being. The obligation to fulfill our purpose is not just for our own benefit, but it also affects those around us. When we fail to fulfill our obligation, we are not only cheating ourselves but those we interact with on a daily basis.
Furthermore, our obligation to fulfill our purpose is a direct reflection of our obedience to our Creator. It is an act of submission to His authority and His plan for our lives. It is not enough to simply exist, but we must strive to live a life that honors and glorifies God. When we fulfill our obligation to live out our purpose, we are able to experience the fullness of life that our Creator intended for us.
When we approach life through the lens of being created, we can solve a lot of the problems this world has. We can see that purpose comes through a Creator, and that the Creator by necessity wields authority, which places obligation on us.
Understanding our purpose as created beings gives us a reason to go forward in life and an obligation to do so in a particular way. Without this understanding, we may try to maintain purpose without the obligation, which ultimately leads to realizing that there is no purpose.
We are created beings with purpose and obligation. We were intentionally created by God, and our purpose is to live a life that honors and glorifies Him. When we understand this, we can live a more fulfilling life, knowing that we were not accidents and that our existence has meaning and purpose.