Walking the LineSample

Life is the question, and life is the answer, and God is the reason, and love is the way. —Johnny Cash

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. —Romans 12:2 ESV

His words may sound like a riddle, but Johnny Cash drives home an important point. Too often, we try to complicate simple matters such as the purpose of life, our relationship with God, and our responsibility to others. We mix up our priorities. We look for loopholes in Scripture. We latch on to plausible-sounding excuses. We allow ourselves to be distracted by the trivial pursuits of social media. And in the process, we lose something vital: our sense of direction.

As is the case with all things spiritual, the solution is to look to the example of Christ. Jesus understood His purpose from the time He was a boy. When He was twelve years old, His family traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. Afterward, Jesus stayed behind when His parents started their journey home. Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem, where they found Jesus in the temple, listening to teachers and asking questions.

When His parents told Him they had been searching for Him, He replied, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 NKJV). As an adult, Jesus summarized His earthly ministry this way: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38 NKJV). Jesus’ top priority was accomplishing God's will, the passion that drove Him. It should be ours too. That’s what we’re created for. That’s what life is all about. God designed us so that we would experience genuine, soul-deep fulfillment when we follow the path He’s laid out for us and do the work He’s equipped us for.

When we feel spiritually lost or aimless or question our purpose in life, the best way to find our footing again is to reconnect with God through prayer and Bible study. That connection is key because we can do nothing apart from Him. He is our power source. His Holy Spirit equips us with spiritual gifts—specific skills or abilities that we can use to minister. Our responsibility is to nurture those gifts and use them as we serve God and make a difference in the lives of others in His name. As Johnny Cash points out, love is how we make others aware of our relationship with God. It’s the way we make others aware of His will. The kind of love God calls us to show is sacrificial. It costs us something, whether it be time, energy, or something else. It takes us out of our comfort zones. It compels us to forgive when we would prefer to hold a grudge. To reach out when we would prefer to keep to ourselves. To risk rejection when we’d rather play it safe. When we pursue God’s will, we can look forward to an unpredictable, sometimes scary, sometimes satisfying, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately fulfilling experience.

Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me with a purpose. Thank You for allowing me to be a part of Your will. Help me maintain my focus on what You would have me do so that I can make a difference for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.