Meaning of life
1 Peter 2:9
But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
What is the meaning of life? Why do we spend our time in the pursuits that we do? Do we work hard most of our adult lives just so we can retire and do the things we want to do, the things that bring us pleasure like travelling, reading, playing golf? Is life just about seeking pleasure? Is that what it’s all about? Or do we simply plod along, one day after another, none of them having any true meaning? This feels like a snippet from Ecclesiastes, vanity, vanity, all is vanity.
I never thought the meaning of life was an elusive idea. In my 20’s I decided the meaning of my life, and really human life, was to leave the planet a little bit better than I found it. I thought we were to spend our lives in service to one another. Ah, youth! That is why I went into law and why I went into ministry. It is clear to me, now, that the ideals of that young person were generated in the heart of the Father. He does wish us to care for each other. However, today’s verse adds a another perspective, one I think it is good for us to pay attention to.
Tuesday I wrote on “The Chosen People”. I wrote about how we are unique unto God and a set apart people. Today’s verse reveals more about the status and duties of believers. God has set us apart for his own service, as His own possession. We are His family. When God called you, He called you to Himself. However, being a part of His family carries with it responsibilities much like the children of any King or Queen. We are to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The God’s Word Bible states this so plainly, “You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Isn’t that beautiful? There is your purpose. We have not been called only so that we can live in the blessing but so that the blessing of God can be exposed to the whole world. We have been given the task of carrying God’s message to the world. We are called to brag on God, to tell the glory of His kindness to the generations. We are God’s Royal Priesthood! Isn’t that amazing? Look in the mirror. What you see is the messenger of God; a person called out from the darkness to carry the good news of the light. God didn’t choose a Hermes as His messenger. He chose us. Is that an amazement?
Let me tell you, when you start proclaiming the goodness of our Father, you, indeed, will become a peculiar people. When telling about the excellencies of Yahweh are more important to you than a beer with the guys, you are definitely going to make an impression but it was for this that you were chosen. It was for this that we were all set apart. This is the purpose of life, to tell people about the beauty, glory and love of the Father who has saved us from darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of light. I can tell you this is not a purpose from which we will ever retire. In fact, we should get stronger as we age and mature.
Life does have meaning and it does have purpose. I hope you feel the importance of who you are. Maybe go look in the mirror again. That is the chosen messenger of God!
