The Reason for Our
Existence
Pastor Steve Nash
You’ve heard
the lines: “Make a difference!” “Impact
your generation!” “Bloom where you’re
planted!” “Know where you have come
from, why you’re here and where you’re going!”
I have used these encouraging, motivating exhortations hundreds of times
through more than 3 decades of ministry.
I will use them until the Lord takes me out of this world.
Most all of
you have wondered why you’re here in this sorry world. You have asked yourself, “What am I suppose
to accomplish and am I fulfilling that mission?” I would go so far as to say that we would be
fools if we didn’t at least wonder. If
we don’t wonder we are sure to wander.
I have a
definition for success. Tell me what you
think of it. “Success is being God’s
person, in God’s place, in God’s time, doing God’s work, with God’s strength.” If you’re in the center of all that, then you
are a successful person! There are other
measurements of success but they pale in comparison to my definition.
We have a
mission statement posted in our church and literature as well as on our website
(christiancommunitychapel.com). It is
simple but full; it is temporal yet eternal.
The statement is, “Loving God, Loving others and Serving Him in our
community.” I think that says it
all. Do you have a mission
statement? Jesus had a mission statement
He read in Nazareth at the commencement of His earthly ministry. Taken from Isaiah 61 it reads, “The Spirit of
the Lord God is upon Me to preach good news to the poor; to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the
prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and
the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to comfort those who
mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of
righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified!”
In
meditating on His reason for visiting this planet, I see that I am mentioned in
His mission statement, for I have been the recipient of much of the help and
hope it offers. This life is not all
about us. We, too, have been “planted”
by God to accomplish His will and glorify His name. Even Jesus came to “glorify the Father.” The old Presbyterian Catechism declares that
we are in this world to “Glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
The big
question is; how am I to accomplish that mission? Where do I begin? To
begin with, we must be sure we are the Lord’s ambassador. Be sure we’re surrendered to His
Lordship. We must be in His army before
we can ever expect to receive orders from above. It’s never too late to enlist and never too
late to accomplish great things for God.
The older one is the more they have to offer. He wants to use our time, talent, gifts and
opportunities that are before us.
Many of us
are involved in a political party, a social cause or some other worthy passion
that is important to us. Those efforts
without the power and direction of God upon us will accomplish nothing but
frustration, disappointments and eventual defeat. It is like “shadow boxing;” we never seem to
land a punch. On the other hand, St.
Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”
Today I am
headed to California to be a witness to my family. My mother is in critical condition at a
hospital. I have asked the Lord to go
before me; to open the hearts of those I have an opportunity to minister to;
especially my mother. If He doesn’t go
before me, I will come back a discouraged soul.
This prayer is one we all must pray on a daily basis. How many things do we attempt wind up coming
to naught? You’ve heard the line, “One
with God is a majority!” or, “With God all things are possible!” We have a God who is able to do…!
I’ve been
quite preachy today but once in awhile we need to hear a sermon. When I share these thoughts at 5am in the
morning it is because they are on my heart and especially speaking to me. Nevertheless, we all need to be certain we
are, “God’s person, in God’s place, in God’s time, doing God’s work, with God’s
strength!”
