How many times have you asked yourself what your true purpose for this world is? I find myself asking that question to myself over and over again. I don't know where to start. As I was reading Leviticus 26; 40-45, I began thinking about the above question again. I'm constantly asking God "What is my true purpose for this world?" "Where Do I go Next?" "Who am I supposed to spend the rest of my life with?" "Where will I find him?" Where will he find me?" Those are answers I really don't know, but wish I knew them. I look around at past relationships and already some of the people in those relationships have already moved on with their lives in a happy, healthy way. "What's wrong with me?" "How come I'm not there yet?" "Why is this taking so long?" For example, there's this one person whose been dating his girlfriend for a year now and they're happy. The next step is most likely engagement. I wish I was there already, but sadly, I am not. I have been waiting 8 long years for the right person to come along, but he's not here yet. I'm still waiting. Anyway, lets get back to the bible verse. In verse 40 it's basically saying to confess their iniquity, and their father's iniquity, with their trespasses for which they have trespassed against God and others, and make sure that we are walking alongside Jesus. But the truth is walking the path of Jesus is a very difficult one. It has been especially difficult for me as well as others that I know. A true christian life is never easy, but nobody said it was going to be easy anyway. No matter where we go or what we do, it will always be difficult, that is until the day Jesus comes back, and our eternal life with him. But first we have to go through judgement and then our eternal life will be decided. In verse 41, it's saying that we must accept our punishment of iniquity and be humbled before God and Jesus. We have a very merciful God and he will give us our expected end. Hopefully the expected end will be a good one. In verse 42, it says that we must remember our covenant just like Jesus did with Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. In other words, Jesus is saying that he will always remember his covenant with the 3 people I mentioned above. In verse 43, it's saying even though certain people despise God's judgements, and their souls are abhorred to God's statutes, they must accept their punishment for whatever it may be, gracefully, because it's their own fault in the first place for them to receive such punishment. After they do that, then they'll either be sent down to Hell or sent up to Heaven with God and Jesus. In verse 44, it's saying that when these certain people be in the land of their enemies, God will not cast them away, and neither will he abhorr them, destroy them utterly, or to break his covenant with them: For he is the Lord their God. In verse 45, it says " But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the Lord." In verse 46, it's saying this: " These are the statutes and judgements and laws, which the Lord made between him and the children of Israel in Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses." In total, all of these verses are showing us what God meant when he said that he is longsuffering. Even if the Israelites chose to disobey God and were scattered among the heathen, God will still give them the opportunity to repent and return to him. His purpose is not to destroy them, but to help them grow. Our day-to-day experiences and hardships are sometimes overwhelming; unless we can see that God's purpose is to bring about continual growth in us, we may despair. The hope that we need is well expressed in Jeremiah 29: 11,12. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you." To retain hope while we suffer shows that we understand God's merciful ways of relating to all of his people. Anyway, I'd like to conclude this blog with a prayer " Dear Lord, please help us to not have anxieties about all of our futures, because we know that our future is lying in your hands, and it will be the best outcome for all of us. Help us all to be still and know that you are Lord and no matter what happens or where we go, help us to know that you are still here and are listening, Help us to do the works that you have for us to do and not be afraid because we know that you are responsible for anything that happens whether it be good or bad. Thank you, Lord. We Love you, Amen!"
