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Many of us are blessed to have found our purpose in life. Maybe you are a parent—or grandparent!!—to some great kids. Perhaps your purpose is to be a supportive spouse, or to help your elderly parents/grandparents/neighbours, etc. Perhaps you have been called into ministry. You pastor a church, or perhaps you are a youth leader or you participate in missions trips. Maybe your purpose is to be a light for Christ in your work setting.
I could go on, for there are as many unique purposes for life as there are unique children of God. And this isn't a new concept either. Even in the days of ancient Israel, God designated specific purposes for different people. Take the tribe of Levi, for example: “Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants." (Numbers 3:9 NLT).
What an honour it must have seemed for this tribe! They were chosen above everyone else to serve the Lord by looking after the wilderness tabernacle! The problem is, they eventually lost that purpose. Once Israel was in the promised land, the tent was established in one place, and then, in the days of Solomon, it was completely replaced with the temple. The tribe of Levi effectively lost its purpose...
I think we can all relate. Our kids that we dedicate our lives to raising grow up and move away. Our spouse/parent/neighbour who we care for passes away. Maybe you are moved to a different office where it is no longer easy to be a light for Christ. Perhaps you are handicapped in some way and can no longer help out in youth activities or participate in missions trips. Like the tribe of Levi, your purpose is effectively…lost! Now what? Does life still have meaning?
I often wonder if the Levites expressed similar concerns. I know that some were led astray during this time, taking up purposes that were not theirs to take (See Judges 17-18). That would all change, however, in the last days of David: "Then David said, 'From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the Lord. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges. Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have made.'"
And with that proclamation, the Levites regained their purpose. Sure, it looked a bit different from their original God-given purpose; yet they once again were called to serve the Lord in caring for His temple.
God doesn't leave us without purpose. In fact, the moment we no longer have a God-given purpose on earth is the moment God calls us home. That means that as long as you are drawing breath, God has a purpose for you! He knows the kids are grown and gone, your aging parents are with Him now, He knows you are disabled, He is well aware that you can no longer serve in your original purpose. However, that doesn't mean His purpose for you is gone.
My husband, who went to live in a nursing home due to severe dementia, has found his new purpose. He walks around the home, finds people who look sad or lost, gives them a hug and prays over them. It doesn't matter that his words sound like gibberish to us. God hears them, and He answers those prayers! If my husband with advanced dementia can be "repurposed", we can be as well! Your grandkids are on the way. Pour into them. Start a visitation ministry at the local nursing home. You may be handicapped in some way, but there is still a calling on your life! Your job is to watch and see where God is at work around you, and to join Him! Maybe He simply wants you to smile, to greet newcomers to church, to share a home-cooked meal, to mow somebody's lawn or shovel the snow from their driveway. Perhaps when you can't physically go into the mission field, you can pray for missionaries, support them with your funds, encourage them.
I knew a lady with stage 4 ovarian cancer. With only days to live, her purpose became to cheer up her caregivers. Until her last breath was drawn, she hugged and blessed the nurses who entered her room. She knew her work wasn't done until God called her home; and at that moment, I know that she received a "well done my good and faithful servant" from the lips of her Lord and Maker.
Has your purpose been removed? Take heart! You have been "repurposed"! Ask God to open your eyes, to take them off of yourself, to see where He needs you. And then be willing to respond, for He WILL show you your new purpose!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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