This is a message I preached on a few weeks ago at the FMC. It took me all day to figure out what I wanted to say, and I didn’t actually realize what I was saying until I was behind the podium saying it. In the end, I realized that God was really guiding the whole thing, because the entire time, I felt inadequate and thought it was going to flop. But thanks to God, it turned out well, so I decided to share the main thoughts of that sermon with you.
What is our purpose? Why are we here? These are some of the big questions most or all people ask at some point in their lives. As applies to most everything, the answer can be found in the Scriptures. But where do we start looking? Since I believe that God wanted man to know the answer as soon as He created him, I thought it fitting to begin by looking at Adam. What was Adam’s original purpose?
Though not explicitly stated in the Bible, it is commonly agreed that God walked with Adam in the cool of the day, every day (Gen 3:8a). And according to Genesis 2:15 Adam was placed in the garden to dress and to keep it. Thus, when man was first created, his simple purpose was to walk and talk with God; to learn all that God had to teach him, and probably to worship Him. He also was to dress and keep it. Dressing a garden usually includes pulling weeds and trimming overgrown branches. However, since their were no weeds at this point in time, Adam’s job was that much easier. He just needed to keep the garden looking nice. And he was supposed to keep the garden. Other translations state that as protecting the garden. This part stumped me for a bit, because I couldn’t imagine what it would need to be protected against, since all the animals, including what are carnivores today, ate herbs and grass (Gen 1:30), and probably wouldn’t be vicious. So what would Adam have to have guarded the garden against if the animals were peaceful and there were no other people on the planet that we know of? I plan to give you my theory in a separate post in the brain teasers category soon.
Then when the woman came along, mankind’s purpose grew a bit to include “be fruitful and multiply.(Gen 1:28)” That verse also says that they needed to subdue the Earth. Being fruitful and multiplying needs little explanation, but what would need to be subdued? Like I already said, as far as animals and weeds go, there was nothing in the Earth that needed to be subdued. But if you look at some of those clips that Earth watchers show sometimes where they show the motion of the sun, or motion of clouds, or bloom, withering, and death of a flower, all really fast, you could see that the Earth really does seem alive. They probably had to work hard to keep floodwaters at bay from time to time. Maybe one of the four rivers that flowed out of Eden (Gen 2:10-14) started to run the wrong direction and needed to be re-routed. Who knows? It’s merely speculation.
But then came the serpent and sin along with him. Man was no longer allowed to commune directly with God, they were kicked out of the garden they used to protect, and they now had to pull weeds and work with the sweat of their brows. So, basically, their purpose changed drastically. The only thing that remained the same, is that they still had to go forth and multiply, and they still had to subdue the Earth.
Then why bother examining Adam’s life? How could his purpose relate to ours all these years later? I believe that these points have a spiritual application in this New Testament day. When we are born again, it’s as if we’ve been created all over again and our purpose is as applicable as it was to Adam, only in a spiritual sense.
I believe that the first thing that God wants us to do when we are born again, and all throughout our walk with Him, is to just commune with Him all the time (Matt. 11:28). Walk and talk with Him (Psalm 23). Learn of Him by reading His Word (Psalm 119:130). Build a relationship by talking to Him through prayer (I Thess 5:17). It’s that simple. He wants to have this time with us, and the rewards go both ways.
Then there was Adam’s duty of dressing and keeping the garden. As dressing was defined before, it still means to trim back the excess, and to adorn. As we grow closer to God, He will start requiring us to get rid of things–cares and pleasures of the world, and bad habits– that choke out the Word in us. We’re also to adorn ourselves in a Godly fashion (I Tim 2:8-9, Titus 2:10). We’re also responsible to keep our souls against the evil one. Of course, we cannot do it alone, and we’re never alone, but God does place a considerable amount of responsibility on us to remain sober, and to keep our souls unto holiness. He will always be there to give us strength to fight.
Then, at some point in every Christian’s life, we are called to be fruitful and multiply. We must reproduce the spiritual birth that has been wrought in us. Some will do more than others. Some will be teachers, pastors, evangelists etc. But all should win at least one soul to God in their time. Physical reproduction is viewed by many as being a glorious blessing, and it is that much more for one who is pulled out of the pit of Hell and given a new beginning.
And we must keep in mind that any time there is multiplying, there will have to be some subduing. Satan hates it when he loses one of his own to Jesus. He hates God, he hates Christians, and he hates that God loves us more than we deserve. So he will send in his forces any time he can to snatch the word out of our hearts. Those of us responsible for those we bring into the church (and even some who aren’t) should very seriously pray God’s divine protection over those precious souls. We need to subdue the enemy. We need to claim victory over him, and keep them far away where they belong.
That is our purpose! That is what we’re called to do: walk with Him and learn from Him; keep our souls and bodies protected, beautiful, and holy; go forth and multiply, teach all nations, baptizing in the name of Jesus (Matt 28:19, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:47); and we need to subdue the enemy (Gen 3:15, James 4:7) by calling on the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17, Rom. 8:37), and walking in faith and righteousness.
If you read this article expecting me to answer your specific, personal purpose, I’m sorry. That is something you can only find out from God. But I believe this is a good starting ground for all people in general to start with. I hope this has blessed you as it blessed me. I pray that you all find the fullest life in Jesus, and that you would stay strong and keep everybody in your prayers. Nobody likes to be left out. ;)
I agree with you, W. You can only find your specific purpose in Jesus. Oh, and I dislike being left, also! ;)