“The purpose of life is not to earn points with God through works, but to live according to His purpose for you.” C.S. Lewis
I do not understand why people who are struggling with a certain illness that seems, to them, to be a death sentence, feel like they have to give up on life for whatever period of time they have left. That seems like a waste of precious and valuable time to me. I guess I am just so convinced I am here for a very specific purpose (or several specific purposes), that I don’t ever feel like giving up. Even when I was struggling with unwanted same sex attraction, I felt walking out of that identity was worth it for the sake of living to tell others they don’t have to give in to ANY temptation - ever. Why? Because I remember being a young boy of 12 and wishing someone would just tell me I do not have to be defined by the things that tempt me. The great news is that the temptation, whenever denied, lessens its grasp on my mind and I can choose to think new thoughts. Heterosexual thoughts.
From a Christian perspective, purpose in life is found in God’s plan, which involves glorifying Him. following His will, and living according to His purpose for you. Key biblical verses and quotes emphasize trust in God's guidance, using your gifts for His service, and understanding that His purpose for you is often more important than your own. I would go so far as to say that understanding His purpose for you is the most important thing one can accomplish after they have come to faith in Christ. Why? Because knowing I have a purpose bleeds over into every aspect of my life. My Marriage. The way I love my children. The way I interact with others. Having and knowing my purpose makes me strive to live; to fight for life!
It is, in a sense, coming face to face with one’s own destiny. If my goal/destiny/purpose is to know Christ and to make Him known, I always have a true north to guide me - even if I become disoriented from time to time. What does one do when they are in the waves at a beach and get toppled over, being tossed end over end, becoming so disoriented that they can no longer distinguish up from down? I have been in that situation physically as an avid SCUBA diver and what I have found is that getting my feet to solid ground and standing up I can reorient myself to where dry land is - true north, in a sense - and can take the necessary steps to extricate myself from the situation. That’s why we, as Christians, sing the old hymn, “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand” or why we constantly quote verses like Hebrews 12:1 and 2 in the NIV:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
To find true north not only do I need to plant my feet on Solid Ground, but I need to fix my eyes on Jesus. This helps me gain my bearings and to re-orient myself to His plan for my life. To know Christ and to be known by Him is the goal, I believe, of every human being that has ever existed or ever will. Why does mankind talk so much of ‘finding oneself’? Every human soul is born with a God-shaped hole in their life due to sin…and only the One Who created them can ever truly fill that hole. I would go so far as to say that to know Christ has revealed to me no matter what I must endure in this life, be it same-sex attraction or Parkinson’s or whatever, God will use it for my good, thereby showing me how He can take even the most messed up life or circumstance and use it for my good.
Following are several of the verses I regularly use in the battle that is constantly being waged in my mind between me and the lies of the enemy that would try to cause me to just give up.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV
According to this verse, He will use even Parkinson’s to work for good in my life! Why would I not follow Him?
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverb 3:5-6 NIV
According to these verses, even when I mess up and miss the on or off ramp, He will correct my journey through life, helping me adjust to any situation.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
According to this verse, He has a plan for my life and only desires what is best for me - even when I bring harm to myself in someway - like walking in pride or self-pity. He can help me reorient myself even when I have walked headlong into the surf that sent me topsy turvy in the first place.
"The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.” Rick Warren
This is a parking zone where we are invited to park any time under any circumstances. In fact, we can live our entire life from this parking lot. Think about it. I park in the Purpose Zone and am granted grace to get through Parkinson’s. I am compelled to lay down my life for my wife and for my children and for my grandchildren. In a way, I have sacrificed everything I am (or thought I was) for the sake of God’s way and have wound up being blessed with 9 children and 13 (so far) amazing grandchildren and a wife (as if this writing) of 42 years any man would give his right arm to have. My family is not perfect, but I feel purpose whenever I think of any one of them and that goes a long way toward making me want to not give up on life. I’ll take Parkinson’s. I’lll take the ridicule of owning my past life. It’s worth it.
“For you will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.” C.S. Lewis
I even have a plan for when I do fall or when I do find myself in complete darkness. This has long been one of my go-to verses concerning the choices I have in any given moment: Micah 7:8 in the NIV says, 8 “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.”
We always have a choice as to how we respond to any circumstance, be it same sex attraction or Parkinson’s or anything else. God can use anyone to express His love to the world. In my lifetime, I have met three men who have undergone sex change surgery only to regret it afterwards. Since I feel so free in sharing my story, I tend to attract a lot of people who want to tell me their’s - and there have been so many through the years. Each of these men who had their bodies altered to try and become women, were each confronted by God’s love and chose to surrender their sexual identity to Him. Each came to the same conclusion: “I was born male and have made a tremendous mistake. I must live with the consequences of my choice, but I choose to live out the remainder of my days in the gender God made me to be.” They have, since the time I met them, helped rescue many from making the same mistake they made. To a man, they would each say they are walking in the purpose God meant for them to walk in all along - in spite of the ways they had altered their bodies. God’s ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. We do not have to understand everything. We just need to be willing to repent and be used by God…whatever the cost.
“In life, you don’t use God to fulfill your purpose. Instead, you let God use you to fulfill His purpose.” www.BecomingChristians.com
I would highly recommend that you park the car of your thought-life in the Purpose Zone. The dividends are amazing and the view is spectacular and the perks are beyond human understanding.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV
The cost of knowing one’s purpose? Its will cost you everything you are and have. Why does it cost so much? Because Jesus paid the debt we owed for our sin. This cost Him His life. You and I were worth His very life, yet He turns around and offers eternal life as a free gift. We but have to reach out and accept it. So why would it cost us everything if it is a free gift? Because in accepting the free gift of life in and through Jesus, we gain everything He has to offer us. In God’s economy gaining life in Him is worth dying to our selves. Do you want to know your purpose in life? Seek Jesus and remember the following:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16:24-26 NIV
Dennnis Jernigan
The above info is from a book I am currently working on called “Parkinson’s & Recreation 3 - The No Parkinson’s Zone”. It is unedited and may have additions made in the final manuscript. Dennis Jernigan
Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/01/09/21/17/bridge-1967674_1280.jpg
https://www.sexchangeregret.com/