We each have an eternal purpose, and the fulfillment of that purpose happens in this life.
If you are still here on this earth, God has work for you to do. This is one of the most consoling thoughts in life. All human beings seek meaning in their life, we want our lives to matter — and they do.
Realize it, my brethren; – everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random;…God sees every one of us; He creates every soul, He lodges it in the body, one by one, for a purpose. He needs, He deigns to need, every one of us. He has an end for each of us; we are all equal in His sight, and we are placed in our different ranks and stations, not to get what we can out of them for ourselves, but to labor in them for Him. As Christ has His work, we too have ours; as He rejoiced to do His work, we must rejoice in ours.
– John Henry Newman
We are each brought into this world to accomplish something specific for God, a task He personally assigned to us, and only to us. God did not bring us into the world so we could exclusively pursue our own interests. We each have an eternal purpose, and the fulfillment of that purpose happens in this life. And God’s purposes are never limited by our limitations.
No matter what mistakes we have made — Paul persecuted the Church and the followers of Jesus Christ.
No matter how poorly prepared we believe ourselves to be — Joan of Arc was a seventeen-year-old girl when she began helping the French Army in their battles against the English.
No matter what deficiencies of birth or character we may have — Moses suffered from a stuttering condition and profound insecurity.
And age is not a factor in God’s plan. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when God called him to his greatest work. The fact that God has a specific plan and mission for each one of us should offer us great encouragement and peace — for a couple of reasons. First, this thought gives our life meaning.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
– Ephesians 2:10
Secondly, each of us has a responsibility to fulfill the mission God gave us.
“You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen…”
– Isaiah 43:10
Thirdly, God’s plan is a perfect plan, and it leads to the fulfillment of all our greatest desires.
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
– Jeremiah 29:11
Fourthly, it is in fulfilling the Lord’s plan completely and perfectly that we will be rewarded. God looks at our works, our sacrifices, our motivations and the disposition of our hearts.
“I the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
– Jeremiah 17:10
Finally, in fulfilling the Lord’s plan for our lives, we more perfectly and completely conform ourselves into the model of the one in whose image we were created – Jesus Christ. Jesus knew why He was put on the earth.
“Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,’ as it is written of me in the roll of the book.”
– Hebrews 10:7
He modeled Himself on His heavenly Father.
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working still, and I am working.”
– John 5:17
And Jesus glorified His Father by doing what He was placed here to do.
I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do.
– John 17:4
Would we want to do any less?
If we are still here, God has a work for us to do.
“Undertake courageously great tasks for God’s glory, to the extent that he’ll give you power and grace for this purpose. Even though you can do nothing on your own, you can do all things in him. His help will never fail you if you have confidence in his goodness. Place your entire physical and spiritual welfare in his hands. Abandon to the fatherly concern of his divine providence every care for your health, reputation, property, and business; for those near to you; for your past sins; for your soul’s progress in virtue and love of him; for your life, death, and especially your salvation and eternity—in a word, all your cares. Rest in the assurance that in his pure goodness, he’ll watch with particular tenderness over all your responsibilities and cares, arranging all things for the greatest good.”
– Saint John Eudes
One day, hopefully, when we are standing on the threshold of our entry into eternity, we will echo the words of our Lord, moments before He fell into the embrace of His Heavenly Father, “It is finished.”
God Bless
Article Copyright © Deacon Mark Danis
Image credit: “The Baptism of Christ” (detail) by Pietro Perugino | Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
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