What Were We Made For?

Deep down inside each of us, there’s a desire to understand our purpose.

Throughout the years, I’ve often been told that our purpose is to become more like Christ. But as we examine Jesus’ life, it wasn’t particularly pleasurable–at least by earthly standards. After all, His journey reached its climax with His death on the cross. The ultimate form of pain, betrayal, and injustice.

On the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, He cried out to God and expressed His distress over His impending suffering. Yet God continued to call Jesus to sacrifice.

[Jesus] withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

Luke 22:41-43 (NIV)

When we are going through suffering, this passage may feel both comforting and alarming. Witnessing God direct Jesus straight into a deadly situation may stir panic in our hearts. Does this mean God wants us to go through pain too?

And as we consider God’s divinity, we may find ourselves wondering, “Why doesn’t God use His power to stop all suffering?”

What if I told you that God is using His power to stop all suffering?

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:3-5 (NIV)

Right now, God is already preparing the way for His new kingdom to come where we will no longer live our fractured existences, marred by brokenness and sin. It is out of His mercy that we are given a chance to repent and develop a relationship with Him while this broken world still exists.

But we don’t have to wait to experience God’s kingdom. When we live according to God’s calling and Jesus’ example, we can shed God’s light and love on even the darkest situations.

So what was God’s purpose in creating us?

Consider God’s original design for the world back in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve didn’t go through pain or suffering, until they allowed sin into the world. Their purpose was to be in relationship with God and tend to the world God created for them.

That is our purpose too.

God still longs for this because He loves us so deeply. He did not create us for suffering. He does not take pleasure in our pain. He cries alongside us. And then, out of His mercy, He redeems our suffering.

For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
³² Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
³³ For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.

Lamentations 3:31-33 (NIV)

If you are struggling to find hope today, remember how Jesus’ earthly journey ended. Not with death, but with new life. God redeemed Jesus’ suffering by using it as a catalyst for us to have relationship with Him again.

God’s ultimate goal is to be in relationship with us. But due to the broken situation of the world, we cannot have a perfect relationship with God–or with anybody–until there is full restoration in Heaven and Earth.

Today, we are called to seek God’s kingdom, setting aside our own aspirations in order to pursue His purposes for us. Often, God places desires in our hearts that we are meant to pursue and other times He leads us in a totally different direction than what we planned.

But through it all, God has a perfect plan for us, cultivated out of His unconditional love. Trust in God’s plan today with the hope that no matter what happens next, God is with you through it all and He will never let go of His precious child. ❤

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:19-26 (NIV)