PURPOSE "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11). Probably one of the most asked questions by Christians is, "what is my purpose?" We all have a great built in desire to have a purpose for living as well as a purpose in what we do. When your job seems to loose it's challenge, it's excitement it's because we could not find a purpose in it. For some of us our purpose seems to be fulfilled in a spouse or our family and of course that is true to a certain extent. However, for most of us there is something missing even in the fulfillment we find in those relationships. That's because the fulfillment of being in the purpose of God cannot be substituted by anything or anyone. Many of us even know what our purpose in God is, but we never seem to quite get there. Well if that's your feeling then you're in real good company. That exact feeling is demonstrated in the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Moses and David. None of these ever saw the completion of their promise, but because they were in the flow of their purpose, their purpose was and is being, completed. Our true purpose is not necessarily to fulfill our desires and expectations of grander, but to develop a continuous relationship with God the Father through Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the person of immediate contact, it would behoove us to get to know Him as much as possible. It is in this we will find satisfaction and completeness and the more we get to know Him our expectations will melt away and be replaced by His desires. Our desires are usually based upon our emotions and not spiritual wisdom, even though our desires are spiritual. Purpose: the object for which something exists or is done; not accidentally but by design intentionally. Now let us see how the word "purpose" is used in some of the New Testament. Eph. 1: 11-12 "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ". Eph. 1:15-21 "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, [16] Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; [17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:" There are three major points in these scriptures we need to look at. Hope-know the hope to which one is called is God's will for one's life which cannot come to pass if one is still in bondage of sin. They must come to the knowledge of their salvation, which automatically brings hope. As soon as the bondage of sin is broken a person can begin to do God's will. Anything outside of God's will is vanity. If we pray with vain imagination or any selfish desire we use God's name in vain and even our purpose cannot be accomplished. We must maintain a hope of His glory and presence at all times. Riches of His glorious inheritance is not necessarily an inheritance of substance but rather of glory. Glory is the visible reflection of God's perfection. That can only come through the Holy Spirit by grace as we die to self and our selfish desires to be more like Christ. This helps us work toward that hope we have seen and received. This is more of an attitude and condition of the heart, than it is an actual action or visible life style. Believing this always brings His great power. To believe we must know and understand the Word. This brings a healing of the mind which will give us the renewed mind which will reflect in our actions the things of the Spirit, which is the power of God. We see the exact same concept delivered by Paul to the church at Colosse, with a slight different order. It is still the same word that helps our faith grow and is revealed in the natural realm. This brings us to the question, how does all this get me to my purpose? The answer is simple. If we will just do what is before us and continue our relationship with the Holy Spirit, He will carry us into our ultimate personal purpose of work and relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus. Remember, everything in the Old Testament is based on the coming of the Cross. Everything in the New Testament is based on the work of the cross. Therefore, all purpose is found at the cross and fulfilled by the power of the Spirit in each of our lives. David Walls