God’s Only Goal

Did you know that if you are a child of God He has but one goal for your life? Contrary to popular Christian culture, it is not to make you happy. It is not to keep you healthy or make you wealthy. His purpose for your life is not even to make you a better person. No, God has a much higher calling for you than these trivial pursuits. Your answer is found in Romans 8:29 “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” 

Do you see it? When God saved you, He placed you in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 1:30) and started a work in you that when finished would make you just like His Son, Jesus Christ. This mysterious process, called sanctification, will not be totally completed until we reach glory. 

I say mysterious because while Philippians 2:13 tells us “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” Ephesians 4 says the believer is to make the choice to put off the old man and put on the new man. Now, while we know that we cannot put off the old man by our own grit and determination, by faith and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can not only put off the old man, but also, we can put on the new man created in Christ Jesus in true righteousness and holiness. In this way, God is constantly conforming us into the image of His Son. 

This is great news! It means, therefore, that for the child of God every circumstance of life has a higher purpose than mere happenstance. When sickness, job problems, family difficulties, and even the death of a close friend or loved one tries to sink its sharp claws into our lives, God is using these things to make us more loving and less critical, more patient and less angry, less ungodly and more like Jesus. 

Then, as we mature in the faith and exhibit the character of Jesus, our lives become a sweet aroma to draw those who are apart from Christ to the Savior and God is glorified in another life. This is God’s purpose. Let’s make every effort to cooperate with His Spirit for His glory!