A Life Full of Purpose

As people wander through the forest of life, they will sometimes ask the question, "What is my purpose?"  Maybe it  is a question that you have asked yourself.  In talking with the students here in Cameroon Bible Institute in Wotutu, some have mentioned the goals and dreams to me.  Some want to go back to their home villages and preach the word of God to a lost people.  They care so much for their people, their friends, and their family.  They feel their purpose is to be here to learn the word of the Lord to take back to save a lost and dying world.  Others want to go to new areas in Cameroon where the church is not established.  They want to expand the boarders of God's kingdom and open new doors of opportunity for those who have never heard of Jesus Christ. They want to take the the word of the Lord to save a lost and dying world.  Both of these examples have the same purpose.  It is to save souls.  What a great declaration they have made in wanting to accomplish these dreams through the God's help.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven."  I believe their is a purpose for all things in life.  Christ has a purpose and understood that purpose.  In John 2:4, Jesus mother has just come to Him and told Him that they have ran out of wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.  He said to her, "Woman, what does you concern have to do with me?  My hour has not yet come."  We will see this thought again in John 7:30 where Jesus proclaims He is from God and Jews from Jerusalem "sought to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him, because His hour had not yet come."  John 8:20, "Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple and no one laid hands on Him for His hour had not yet come."  We then come to John 12:23, "Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.'"  John 12:27, "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father save me from this hour?  But for this purpose I came to this hour.'"  Jesus knew His purpose.  He understood that He was here to go to the cross for our sins.
The question is not what is our purpose as people in this world?
I want to suggest our purpose is found within scripture. Eccl. 12:13 tells us our purpose is to fear God and keep His commandments.  Eph. 2:10 tells us that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works.  Col. 1:16 states that we were created through Him and for Him.  Our purpose is to serve Almighty God.  2 Tim. 4:2-5 tells us that our purpose if to proclaim God's word and to fulfill our ministry. 
I pray that as these men understand their purpose in life, that we too will find our purpose in life and that is to serve God and proclaim Him in whatever state of life we are in.  We do not have to be "A Preacher" to do these things.  We are all ordinary people called to an extraordinary life doing the will of our God.
May God bless you richly this day.