There's just something about that name...

If you made a list of the huge questions that humans face in life, one of the biggest and most frequently considered would be "What is the meaning of life?" Everyone wants to figure out what it's all about. In a Christian's life, I think we're a little bit closer to figuring out that answer. We know that the purpose of our lives is to glorify God; to bring Him praise. But I'm just now realizing just how big of a deal that is, & what a huge part it is of the entire history of everything.

Any student here at North Greenville could tell you that we're here to live for God & share Him with other people. And we know that that's what God wants, we know that on a surface point. But, the roots are much, much deeper than those simple words.

From the beginning of time, it's been about Him. He created us so that we could have the chance to experience Him, & know Him. When we sinned in the very beginning, (& I say we because even though Adam & Eve were the only ones there physically, we've all done it a million times in our own ways) we broke our chance for fellowship with Him, since He can't look upon sin. He made Adam & Eve leave the Garden of Eden so they wouldn't eat from the Tree of Life & be forever left in their fallen state; even THAT, He did for us! Then, He began setting things in motion to bring His son to earth to be the sacrifice for our sins. That we could again have fellowship with Him, know Him, experience Him, & praise Him. Everything in the Old Testament, from his covenants to circumstances that He allowed to happen, were in accordance with His plan. His plan to restore us to Himself. Then, when Jesus came, He took all of our sin upon Himself.

I have to let that sink in for a second. I can hardly bear the guilt and pain from my own personal sin. Can you imagine bearing the weight of every sin ever committed, & ever to be committed? He beared it all for us, Himself. Because only by doing so could we be able to regain fellowship with Him, & reveal His glory to the world. But you see, it's still about Him. It's about His glory, & honor. About realizing & soaking in the light of His goodness & mercy. It's not about us.

Living in this present age, especially in America, we are led to believe that it is all about us. If you don't want to do something, don't. If you want something, do what you have to in order to get it. If you love someone, be with them. If you "feel" like behaving a certain way, or really just whatever you want to do, do it! We're taught by the media that we're entitled, that we deserve these things.

My friends, we don't deserve anything. We are sinners. We don't even deserve life but He gave it to us. We don't deserve His love; we have denied His so many times, in our lives & in our hearts, & yet He will always be waiting to take us back. We don't deserve any of His goodness, but He freely bestows it on us. He is the one who DESERVES all of the good. He deserves all of the praise. He deserves our lives, for us to serve Him. We deserve hell, but He sent us a way out. Because His purposes are greater. His purposes are for His name to be glorified, no matter what.

If I have to suffer for His name, then so be it. Whatever I must endure, wherever I must go, I'll take it. Because it's not about me. He has already blessed me far beyond anything I could ever imagine. I have an incredible family. I have amazing friends. I have LIFE, & I get to see His reminders of His love all around me in Creation. What could be greater?

The purpose of my life is to contribute to His purposes. And His purposes are for His name to be lifted up; for His name to be famous; for His name to be the one we're worried about. Not our own.

The most glorious thing of all is that He allows us to be a part of it.

He can do whatever He pleases; He's God. Any circumstances that arise, He makes that work in His favor to bring people to know Him, that more would discover His Name. And when we choose to love Him, He allows us to be a part of bringing others to know His love as well.

When I was younger I viewed this subject about God through very human eyes. Realizing that all of everything revolves around Him seems almost selfish of Him, in a way, since in our lives it would be a bad thing. But the good news is, that is not the case with Him. He has shared Himself with us in so many ways, to allow us to experience any good thing that comes our way. He blesses us so fully, just because it allows us to know His goodness & mercy more. Because while we were yet sinners, He died for us. So that we could have a chance to know His name.

His name brings life. His name brings mercy. His name brings peace. His name brings order. His name means that there is someone who has it all under control, whose plans are without error, & whose plans WILL be carried out with or without our personal help. But wouldn't you like to have a part in that? Wouldn't you like to be a part of sharing His name with others & making it great among the nations?

I am only BEGINNING to realize the magnitude of who He is, & how great He really is. But I can't wait to discover even more, & for my passion to share His name to grow & overflow in my life.

As the hymn says, "There's just something about that name..."