Atheists do not believe that there is any purpose in the universe, that life happened by chance and that events occur randomly. It is difficult to believe that Earth could develop life and that humanity could seek reasons for being, or ask the question “Why?” without there being some purpose to existence. We live purposeful lives. Without purpose we would have no goals to achieve, no aim in life, no sense of destiny. We get frustrated when we cannot fulfill our dreams.

Do you have a pessimistic view of the future or an optimistic view? Do you get depressed and cynical when world leaders who claim that they can make a difference do not seem to be able to solve the problems of the world? It is easy to get discouraged by the history of the world and the events of our lives. Yet, the Bible gives us a picture of the sovereignty of God over creation and his purposes being fulfilled through the lives of his people.

Paul gives a speech to the people of Pisidian Antioch, which is located in the middle of modern Turkey, showing that God had been acting in history from the beginning of time, that he had not abandoned his creation or let it descend into chaos. He argued that God was acting according to a careful plan, which he gradually followed. There is a meaning to history. We can have hope. The purpose of the Creator of the Universe is being fulfilled. You need not think that there is no explanation to what is going on, or no reason for your life. God has a purpose that he is fulfilling in and through your life.

Paul tells his audience that God chose the people of Israel and prospered them through their stay in Egypt. He led them out through forty years in the wilderness, defeated seven nations and gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took 450 years. He then gave them judges to rule them, and Saul as a king for another forty years. David was chosen to do everything God wanted him to do. Now he has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised, preceded by John the Baptist. The message of salvation has been sent to us. Jesus was rejected, as the prophets had foretold, and was executed by the authorities in Jerusalem. God raised him from the dead. The Gospel or good news is that what God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled in Jesus in bringing us the resurrection from the dead and the forgiveness of sins. God is fulfilling his purpose in all that has happened and through the wonderful things that are happening in these days. In every generation this message had brought about the grace of God in the lives of all people who responded in faith.

This message was received by many and rejected by many. There are those who scoffed at it and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. There are people who do not believe that God is working his purpose out through Jesus. They denigrate it and trash it. Paul was not surprised at such rejection. He said, “Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles (nations), that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Others received the word gladly and honored the word of the Lord through Paul, “and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” God was fulfilling his purpose through the lives of these people. There was both human faith and divine appointment involved. There was no accidental response to the message. God had planned Paul and Barnabas’s visit to their town. He was fulfilling his purpose in bringing them the word of the Lord. They were meant to hear and to believe. Their names were written in the Book of Life. (Phil.4:3; Rev.13:8;20:12;21:27) “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

“Long before he laid down the earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)” (Ephesians 1:4,5; The Message)

“God is working his purpose out, as year succeeds to year.”
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

God is working his purpose out in our lives today. God is working his purpose out through the preaching of the Gospel in many nations. God is working his purpose out through the word of the Lord spreading through our lives and witness. God is working his purpose out as we continue in the grace of God. God is working his purpose out in the daily events of our lives, in our encounters with others, through our prayers for others. God is working his purpose out through Jesus Christ coming to us in his risen power. God is working his purpose out through the gift of eternal life. He is doing something in our days that you might never believe, even if someone told you. What is Jesus doing in your life today? God’s purpose is to make us whole and holy, to make us like Christ.

“The things that happen do not happen by chance, they happen entirely in the decree of God. God is working out His purposes. If we are in communion with God and recognize that He is taking us into His purposes; we shall no longer try to find out what His purposes are. As we go on in the Christian life it gets simpler, because we are less inclined to say – Now why did God allow this and that? Behind the whole thing lies the compelling of God. ‘There’s a divinity that shapes our ends.’ A Christian is one who trusts the wits and the wisdom of God, and not his own wits.” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 5th.)

Jesus came to do his Father’s will and fulfilled it perfectly in his life and death for us on the Cross. He fulfilled the purpose of God, he completed the work that he was given to do by giving eternal life to all those given to him by the Father. By living each day in his company and by his Word and Spirit we will fulfill the purpose of God for us.

(Ted’s blog is found at www.tedschroder.com )