Many of my fellow peers have told me that they struggle with who they are or where they are going in life. I have felt this same overwhelming feeling of confusion and frustration. Indeed identity crisis seems to be something that many young Americans struggle with. We want to see around the corner, understand what is ahead of us, and have a complete road map of our life laid out before us. However, life isn't like that. Yes, our story is already designed but, it hasn't been given to us to read before we live it. And often times when we think we have everything planned and all of our ducks in a row it is at that very minute that the machinery misfires and we are back at square one. Then there are those of us who haven't even made it to the point of figuring out where our lives are going never mind having our plans run a muck. For both of us life seems unfocused and often off balance. But, that is the way it should be. We were created for a purpose and without a goal in our lives everything will be topsy turvy.
However, the problem isn't that we don't have a plan. Rather the problem lies in the fact that we don't have the right plan first and foremost. Our sole purpose for being put here on earth is to glorify God. From the minute we hit the alarm in the morning to the very second we fall asleep; indeed even in our rest we are to be praising our Creator. 1 Corinthians 6:20 reminds us that we were bought with a price and therefore we are to glorify God. Thus this should be our goal. Not just something that we repeat with our tongues or nod our heads when we hear it said; thinking that it is a great idea once we have figured out what we are going to do with our lives.
No, this is not right at all. The bible doesn't say once you have figured out what you are doing with your life go ahead and acknowledge God. It says whatever we do we must do to the Glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31) That means that we are to glorify God with our job, schoolwork, chores, dress, music, friends, relationships, oh and our future plans. Our lifestyle is to be a pleasing aroma to God thus our future aspirations must fall under it.
So who are we? We are God's workmanship created by Him and for Him to God be the glory. What is our purpose in life? Our purpose in life is to proclaim God. That's it. Not to be the best athlete, the best business owner, the perfect spouse, or the smartest student; it is to shout God's praise. But, we can only do this if we begin by knowing how it is that we are to praise God. And it isn't the same for every person. Specifically glorifying God has different actions in accordance with who He has created us to be. We are God's chosen people but we are are not the same. How then shall we live? For that answer we must begin by looking to the scriptures. Titus chapter two has laid out perfect guidelines for how we are to live our lives. From here our response should be earnest prayer that God would guide us in the way we should go. This is the only way to discover who we really are everything else will leave us with a deep emptiness and despair because man was made to glorify something and if we will not glorify our Creator then we will attempt to glorify something else. But everything else is mortal and because of this will become ugly if it is receiving the praise that belongs alone to the Immortal. Thus in the end to truly know who we are we must begin by knowing God.
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1 comment:
very beautiful essay, Laura. good job.
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