Finding purpose in life (a recurring theme in Matrix) prompted me to consider ‘full-time ministry’ last year. I ‘woke up’ one day and was so scared that time passes so terribly fast once I started working. Don’t want life to blow away without any “significance”.
Looking back, I realised it was the wrong reason to go ‘full time’. God’s purpose for us can be lived out in any legitimate career. I’m still struggling against the tide to see how my work could glorify and please Him too… please pray for me, yah?!
Question: “God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input! You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don’t get to choose your purpose.” If my whole life exists for God’s purpose, should all parts of my life, my career, spouse, hobbies etc. be aligned to my life’s purpose? If this is the case, then in a way, I don’t really get to choose them either!
DC: “Matrix Reloaded” has this interesting scene where Oracle, a woman who could predict the future was chatting with Neo, the Chosen One… She knew in advance whether he would sit or stand, whether he would take her candies or not… so Neo protested, “Where’s my freewill?” Her reply was, “But you have already chosen!” Could be a philosophical can of worms here…
Anyway, God’s purpose here actually refers to His “revealed will”, that is, our lives should be fulfilled in knowing Him – to enjoy and glorify Him forever. Therefore, every area of life – be it career, spouse, eating or dancing –should be aligned to this purpose. But His revealed purpose, in this sense, can be rejected… we could choose to oppose what we ‘should’ by enjoying soap operas more than Him or live for self-gratification only.
There is another sense where God’s purpose cannot be frustrated, His “sovereign will”, which I don’t think Rick Warren is talking about here. In His wisdom, God already knew in advance whether we will choose or reject His good plans for us. So nothing we choose ever took Him by surprise. Even sin that opposes His purpose happens only because God has chosen to allow it. So where’s freedom to choose if our choices are already determined? Well, our choices are still voluntary IF they are determined by our own desires. If God’s sovereignty wills me to pass my exams, He doesn’t accomplish it without my choices, rather through my hard work, etc. So when I pass my exams as God foreknew, “I have already chosen!” Since God knows all about my character, circumstances and preferences, He knows all my future choices as well.
Looking back, I realised it was the wrong reason to go ‘full time’. God’s purpose for us can be lived out in any legitimate career. I’m still struggling against the tide to see how my work could glorify and please Him too… please pray for me, yah?!
Question: “God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input! You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don’t get to choose your purpose.” If my whole life exists for God’s purpose, should all parts of my life, my career, spouse, hobbies etc. be aligned to my life’s purpose? If this is the case, then in a way, I don’t really get to choose them either!
DC: “Matrix Reloaded” has this interesting scene where Oracle, a woman who could predict the future was chatting with Neo, the Chosen One… She knew in advance whether he would sit or stand, whether he would take her candies or not… so Neo protested, “Where’s my freewill?” Her reply was, “But you have already chosen!” Could be a philosophical can of worms here…
Anyway, God’s purpose here actually refers to His “revealed will”, that is, our lives should be fulfilled in knowing Him – to enjoy and glorify Him forever. Therefore, every area of life – be it career, spouse, eating or dancing –should be aligned to this purpose. But His revealed purpose, in this sense, can be rejected… we could choose to oppose what we ‘should’ by enjoying soap operas more than Him or live for self-gratification only.
There is another sense where God’s purpose cannot be frustrated, His “sovereign will”, which I don’t think Rick Warren is talking about here. In His wisdom, God already knew in advance whether we will choose or reject His good plans for us. So nothing we choose ever took Him by surprise. Even sin that opposes His purpose happens only because God has chosen to allow it. So where’s freedom to choose if our choices are already determined? Well, our choices are still voluntary IF they are determined by our own desires. If God’s sovereignty wills me to pass my exams, He doesn’t accomplish it without my choices, rather through my hard work, etc. So when I pass my exams as God foreknew, “I have already chosen!” Since God knows all about my character, circumstances and preferences, He knows all my future choices as well.
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