 Spiritual: November 29, 2006 Issue [#1403] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: windac
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"You must learn to be still in the midst of activity,
and to be vibrantly alive in repose."
Indira Ghandi
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Welcome to this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. Your editor's are Puditat  , Becky Simpson , kittiara, and me, windac.
Due to time constraints created by work and the Thanksgiving holiday, putting together a fresh, new issue turned out to be more than I could handle. After wracking my brain for a simple solution, it came down to sharing a conversation I had with two writing.com members. Both will remain anonymous, but what you see below is the ensuing answer to the question, "What is God's purpose?" My response is in black; a good friend in blue.
Finding a way to answer your question has proven to be a lot more difficult than I had imagined. When first reading your e-mail, everything I feel and believe flashed through my mind in an instant. I was thrilled that you asked such a question, and at the time thought it would be a piece of cake. But trying to put the depth of emotion and belief down on paper is just this side of impossible. The thing is, it's all so simple, and yet so complex. Please bear with me as I attempt to explain the unexplainable.
No one can fully imagine, much less understand, God's purpose. Yes, I know. Not the answer you were looking for. I can give you the basic premise of Christianity (which you probably already know), or attempt to pack 51 years worth of life into a few words. Neither alone will do proper justice to your question. I don't think there's anything that I, a mere human, can say or do that would ever fully give proper justice to your question. But, being the stubborn mule that I am, will give it my best shot.
After much thought I decided to seek the advice of a good friend. I've gone to him many times when the waters seemed murky... he's always been able to clear my vision. Part of his response is as follows:
“What is God’s purpose?” The idea of purpose, when in reference to God, can only be meaningful when it is directed toward His creation. The Bible tells us that in the beginning God determined it would be good to have man (and woman) as a companion—someone in His image who He could have a relationship with. He did not do this because His existence was incomplete and it filled a need that was lacking in God. No, He created all that is, including man, simply because He knew that it was good to do so. Now, He did not wish to have a robot but someone with free will who could make a conscious decision to have a relationship with Him. That gives US purpose. We are to fellowship with Him. That’s what we are supposed to do. When God created us it gave purpose to His creation.
God is indefinable. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He exists beyond time and dimension. When asked to define Himself he responded to Moses that He was “I Am.” That in itself is a very indefinable statement. What does it mean? It means He is that which no name can really be applied. He cannot be categorized and placed in the pantheon of human understanding. We cannot establish God’s purpose any more than we can categorize Him. Purpose in relation to God is what He gives to us. Without God there is no purpose. To even attempt to classify God and limit Him regarding purpose would be to imply that we understood God and knew His limits and boundaries - which we don’t know, and will never know this side of glory. How totally presumptuous and conceited we have become.
The Apostle Paul said of the Roman philosophers, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” They were the kind of folks who asked the “purpose” of God. What makes us believe we can define God? What makes us believe we can place limits and boundaries on Him? What makes us believe we can understand His purpose? We can barely discern our own purpose, much less the purpose of God. The one who proclaims they can never believe in God until they understand His purpose, do not truly want to find God. That one is more concerned with affirming their own elevated worth. To come to God one must confirm that he cannot define God—that he cannot find God on his own. To find God we must admit we are imperfect and needy—something many people refuse to do. To find God we must realize that our purpose is complete when we yield ourself to God. Purpose in the life of a Christian is understood only when we align our life with God’s will and concede that it is not necessary to seek to know why God is.
Suffice it to say that the human mind cannot possibly conceive of limitless power, infinite knowledge, or all encompassing love. Yet the human heart can feel it, embrace it, and still not totally understand it. My own spiritual journey began at a very early age, despite being raised in a decidely non-religious, non-spiritual home. For some unknown reason, I've just always believed in God. But it's only been in the last 6 years or so that I've actively and ferevently persued a better understanding of God, myself, and all things spiritual. I've asked questions, read books, talked and listened to those who are wiser than myself. I still have questions, and so I seek the answers, knowing full well that all the answers are not mine to know, at least not yet.
If your heart is wanting (and I believe all hearts are wanting), then you must begin your own journey. The truth is, I alone cannot answer your question. You must allow your own heart to question, to seek, to uncover. To find God, you must look. In other words, seek and ye shall find. As trite as that sounds, it is true.
There are four books that I highly recommend you read. Each one had a strong impact on me, and enabled me to look at faith, life, and what God created us to be in a different perspective.
The Sacred Romance - Drawing Closer to the Heart of God (written by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge)
Wild at Heart - Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul (written by John Eldredge)
Captivating - Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul (written by John and Stasi Eldredge)
The Purpose Driven Life (written by Rick Warren)
As much as I wanted to answer your question in an informative, rational, and understandable manner, I hope that after all these words you're not disappointed, and that your waters are not more murky than before!
 I hope that you'll forgive me my temporary foray into the world of 'cheating', as it were.
May you all have a blessed Christmas!
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