A Deliberate Design: Discovering Life Purpose
by Dilys Chiew
Have you looked at your body recently?
Though I am no specialist in human anatomy, it amazes me to think that this “unity” of blood, bone, skin, organs, and muscle works so well together. Every part of the human body seems perfectly coordinated with each other.
Consider the workings of an individual cell. It has no “brain,” no control center that dictates its processes. Every one of its functions is controlled by chemical reactions that yield more chemical reactions. Even though it carries out tasks vital to the well-being of the whole body, a cell isn’t technically “alive.”
Yet, a wondrous thing happens when these cells come together to form organs, systems, and eventually, a body. Blood flows, carrying oxygen, nutrients, and wastes. Muscles contract, enabling movement and exerting force. Bits move in and out of cell membranes. Chemical reactions occur. Amidst the simultaneity of these processes, life happens.
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The apparent harmony of the human body points to a deliberate design. Each part is invaluable to the whole because it serves a specific purpose. If one part is flawed, the entire body is affected. Consider the consequences of being born with an extra chromosome.
Our bodies’ purposeful design presumes the existence of a master architect, a God that is intimately involved in his work. A Hebrew poet once described him like this: “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb … My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.”
If God has constructed each part of our bodies to serve a designated function, then he must have also created us – including our bodies – for a purpose.
A deliberate design
At some point in our lives, we’ve been robbed of the knowledge of our true purpose in life. We think it consists of acquiring wealth, having a family, leading an exciting life, or climbing the corporate ladder. We may not even know that we exist for a greater purpose.
Jesus of Nazareth tells us something different. “I have come in order that you might have life,” he says, “life in all its fullness.” Because he is the source of life, we can only experience this purpose-filled life through knowing God intimately, because he is the giver of life.
The problem is, each one of us has set up barriers against God. For some individuals, these barriers take shape as intellectual hurdles; for others, they are emotional obstacles — people can’t understand how the existence of human suffering and a loving and all-powerful God can coexist.
At their root, the obstacles are all the same: they stem from an individual’s conscious choice to rebel against God’s perfect purposes and ways in thought, word and deed. The result of this rebellion is separation because God will not and cannot be present where sin — our rebellion from God’s standard — exists. And since God is the source of all life, we experience death — both physically and spiritually — when we sin.
Our attempts to implement meaning and happiness into our lives are feeble and temporary. Some resign themselves to the philosophy of “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” Others attempt to resolve this schism between God and man by trying to live a good life, practicing rigid disciplines (such as prayer), and holding on to the right precepts. We seek purpose in a variety of places – everywhere, that is, but in God.
Jesus of Nazareth accomplished what no man or woman could ever do. Although he was (and is) by nature God in essence, he entered our world, became like us, in all our physical weaknesses and limitations, and lived a perfect, sinless life. He never departed from his flawless, divine standard; in fact, he declared himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) for everyone.
He did this by dealing with the sin that separates humanity from God. In essence, Jesus — who is completely free from the guilt of sin — took on our sin and died as our perfect replacement. He then came back to life again, showing that even death (the ultimate fruit of sin) cannot possibly keep us from having a relationship with God and discovering true life and purpose with him.
We have a choice. We can either try to fashion a life purpose from our careers, spouses, relationships, or philosophies. Or we can find our real life purpose in the life-giver, the one who meaningfully created us.
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