Made for a Purpose: Jeremiah 1: 4-8; II Tim. 1: 3-11
When I moved to Georgia, I was told there is an old saying to describe three of the largest, oldest cities. If memory serves me correctly, it goes a little something like this: “In Atlanta, they will ask you what your business or trade is; in Macon, they will ask you which church you belong to or grew up in; and in Savannah, they’ll ask what you want to drink.” Now, having spent time in all three of these cities, I have learned that AT LEAST ONE of those questions is asked in every single one of those cities. I’ll give you a hint…it’s not the church question. Each of those questions gets to the heart of something—your purpose for being there, whether it’s work, faith, or the never-ending party atmosphere of the coastal city.
Whether we realize it or not, just as we learned God created and wanted us last week, God has also made us for a purpose. You’re not “just here.” You’re here for a reason that you and your Creator can jointly work on. For some, we have one, overarching life purpose. In all of my jobs, I seem to work with the over 50 crowd. I’m fine with that. Some are called with gifts of song, speech, wisdom, leadership, the ability to bless. Some of us have one life mission, others of us have many small purposes to which we are called at any given time. But the truth remains: your presence on Earth is no accident, nor is it without reason. You were made for a purpose.
One of the scriptures most often quoted to show this idea of God’s purpose is Jeremiah 1:5, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Now, obviously, God is speaking directly to Jeremiah here, and not in general. But with a little logic work, one can reason that if God knows Jeremiah before birth and set him apart for a purpose, that same God knows us and calls us according to our purpose as well.
Imagine that connection. God created you, gave you new life in Christ, wanted you to be his very own, and now we learn actually has a reason for your presence here on earth which God designed before you were ever born. II Timothy picks up on this same idea of being called. Paul writes to Timothy in verse 9 that God has saved us and called us to live a holy life. But even as Paul discusses God’s gift, which is grace, Paul also discusses God’s plan. See if this brings to mind the same words Jeremiah heard. Paul writes in verse 11, “And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.”
Paul had a very strong and distinct sense of his calling. He feels this calling from God all the way through his life from the time he was converted on the Damascus Road. He felt all of his life how God has chosen him to preach, teach, and lead. And Paul followed that purpose. He was beaten, yet he followed that purpose. He was imprisoned, still he followed that purpose. He was nearly killed, and he followed that purpose. Eventually, as we read here, he was imprisoned for good and finally executed. And yet, even from the horror of an Ancient Roman prison, Paul writes to Timothy of his purpose chosen by God.
My friends, if God has called Jeremiah, and God has called Paul, God has called you and me as well to a holy purpose. For some of us that could be one over-arching purpose. We are called to teach in life. We are called to support those who struggle in mind and spirit. We are called to bring the therapeutic gift of music. We are called to show others how to find balance and peace in a weary life. We are called to use our blessings to make our community better. We are called to be prophets who speak a tough word to folks who need challenge in life. Each of us will have at least one purpose in life. Don’t squander it. Jeremiah tried so hard to avoid his call, saying he’s too young. God had none of that. You are never “too” anything for God to work in and through you, if you are willing to let him.
Paul even writes to Timothy about his own purpose, which I think can give us a nice starting point or direction. In verse 8, Paul writes that Timothy should be prepared to tell others about the Lord, to have no shame doing so, and to even be ready for when that voice of witness brings suffering. Paul spent his whole life testifying about Christ’s grace, and the lawyer in him never seemed to back down from a fight, even when it landed him in trouble. He’s telling us all to be unashamedly, unapologetically Christian in the world we live in.
Paul is also telling Timothy to turn to God’s strength to stand for God’s truth in the world, to let God’s strength help him be unashamedly and unapologetically for Christ, even if the world opposes, even if others who supposedly share the faith oppose. Sometimes we get so caught up in believing the world outside the church is attacking that we forget Christ was executed by the religious. Paul was most strongly opposed by the faith leaders with whom he was once partnered. Throughout the centuries, it is not those outside who fought the church, but those supposedly within the fold who did the most damage. That is why Paul so strongly warns Timothy never to be ashamed and to always be ready for suffering to come his way.
But Paul also says something powerful in verse 7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” In calling us to be unashamedly and unapologetically for Christ, God also calls us to be bold, to speak with the fire and thunder of heaven, and project a faith which increases Christ over self and love over law. Paul stood for what he believed was right in his calling from God. He was cast out of towns and cities. He was banned from his own church at Corinth (which he founded). He was challenged by the Galatians, Ephesus, and other places, and exiled off to a prison far away in the belief he would be forgotten. But never once did Paul abandon his call, nor did he abandon God’s church or people. He unapologetically and unashamedly spoke and stood for Christ in his unwavering love and commitment to those whom he shepherded and ministered with, and that, my friends, was no easy calling.
You were created by God, and you were created anew in Christ. But you are also made to live a purpose which God planned for you from before you were even born. Over the years, perhaps, you’ve lost your way; perhaps you’ve turned to other things that clouded that purpose and dulled God’s voice speaking to you. Perhaps there’s been so much struggle and trauma that you don’t even know if you can still hear that still, small voice speaking to your heart. God has never stopped speaking. God has never stopped calling you. Can you hear it or feel it? Will you listen? Before you were born, God made you for a purpose—to start at the point of being unashamedly for Christ, sharing love, and teaching the Good News in word and action. What is the purpose God has made for you? It’s never too late to find out.
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/875343336388497
Bonus video! HEM & FCC HymnFest: https://www.facebook.com/TheHemsters/videos/276890464131756