Purpose in These Last Days*

As we see the signs of the end times and the return of Christ becoming more numerous, what is our purpose? King Solomon wrote: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Eccl. 3:1). The word "purpose" used here is the Hebrw word kayfets meaning "purpose", but also "delight, pleasure, longing". There is a connection between the fulfilling of God's purpose, and His delight. Jesus spoke, for instance, of how He longed to keep the Passover with His disciples, as it spoke of His purpose. Paul wrote of the beginning of our purpose in the will of God: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved..." (Eph. 1:4-6). God's purpose in us was established before the world was created that we should be made a part of Christ. We know from scripture that Jesus was the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. We know that "In the beginning", or B'reshiet in Hebrew, each of the letters of the word combined together to mean, "The Son of God crushed, His hand on a cross". We know that the Creator in Genesis was Elohim aleph-tav in Hebrew. The written but untranslated "aleph-tav" letters refer to Christ, "the Alpha and the Omega" as translated into the Greek language. Our purpose, with the eternal purpose of the Lamb of God, Jesus, was established before the physical creation. Paul continued to write in Ephesians that this was established through redemption (by His blood), forgiveness, and grace, which cannot be earned, but is given by God as a gift to all who will receive it. Jesus accomplished all of these for us to the glory of God, and for His praise. Paul wrote: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." (v. 9-10). This is the purpose of God in which He delights and longs - bringing all creation back into Himself through the redemption work of Christ. God walked with Adam and Eve daily in the Garden of Eden before man accepted the lie of the devil and became separated from God. Now, man and God are reconciled together again through Christ, His Son. Not only have we been reconciled, but included in our purpose is the gain of an inheritance "being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will...." (v. 11). We entered into this purpose when we trusted and believed the word of truth, the Gospel of our salvation, and were sealed, or guaranteed, in this salvation leading to eternal life by the Holy Spirit (v. 13). We were purposed before the foundtion of the world, but the hearing and believing of the Gospel, brought us into this purpose at the proper time. How did the Gospel accomplish this? Paul wrote regarding the power of the Gospel, which he risked his life to preach: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the Greek." (Rom. 1:15-16). The Gospel is the (dynamite-like) power of God that leads to salvation by which His righteousness is revealed to man from faith to faith, deeper and deeper. It is by this faith that a man is viewed as "just" before God (v. 17). What is more righteous than an Almighty God who so loves, that He has delighted in His will to give up His only Son so that we can live and not die? People are dying today to bring this Gospel of salvation to others in certain parts of the world. It is still a death sentence in some nations to preach or believe the Gospel. There are those, however, to whom God has revealed Himself, but they have denied Him because they love unrighteousness more. Because God has clearly shown Himself to them, they are without excuse (Rom. 1:1-20). We see more and more of this in the world. The physical world is proof of God's existence and the truth of His Word, yet some men would deny Him: "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things...Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Rom. 1:18-25). What happens to men who know God but refuse to glorify Him as God? God gives their minds and nature over to the unclean things that they prefer. Even their sexual natures, which God had given them, begins to twist towards the unnatural, even the perverse: "And even as they did not retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." (v. 26-28). The turning of a person continually to unrighteousness, though he has knowledge of God, is described in scripture as being like a dog returning to its vomit. One of the truths of God's Word is that "male and female God He created them", period. When we refuse and hate the truth, we are given over by God to the lie that we have chosen instead. The twisting and corruption manifest in other ways as well. Men become filled with: "...all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (v. 26-32). As we read last week in Ezek. 33:11, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but pleads with them to turn away from unrighteousness, and to turn back to Him. We see this in other parts of scripture as well (2 Chron. 7:14, 1 John 1:9). This is the power and the hope of the Gospel, and this is the purpose of God that gives Him pleasure and delight: rescuing someone from death and destruction, and bringing them into the freedom, light, and righteousness of His Son. The Lord desires that the invitation be issued far and wide: Become one with God and live in everlasting life. This is the purpose in which Jesus delights and longs: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age).' Amen." (Mt. 28:18-20). When the eleven disciples met with Jesus at the appointed place after His resurrection to receive His directions, some doubted, the Word says (v. 16-17). Believers are not free from struggles: "But (Jesus said) he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Mt. 24:13-14). Because of this purpose that the Lord has commissioned to His disciples, we have created a free ebook, totally without cost, and available to all. The details for obtaining this book are found at the end of this post. Scriptures speak of a time of great tribulation that is coming upon the world, of which, I believe, we are seeing the beginning even now. If those days of extreme tribulation were not shortened by God, no one would survive them (v. 21-22). Men will be running into the rocks and caves seeking safety, but there will be no safety to be found as the wrath of the Lamb of God, Jesus, falls upon the wicked (Rev. 6:15-17, Isa. 2:9-12). Those in Christ are not meant for the wrath of God, and, in His purpose and will, there is a different future for those inhabitants of the earth. It will be an earth filled with the knowledge of the LORD. No violence nor war will be seen among men, nor among the beasts of the earth. The nations will come to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of God, to be taught by Him: "...and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Isa. 2:1-4, Isa. 11:4-9). AMEN. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/30/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.