The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:15-16
I heard a story a while back about a sideshow attraction at a county fair. A roller-skating parrot was on display under a ragged tent in the back of the fairgrounds. Apparently most folks were marginally amused at the sight of a roller-skating parrot – but one small child, a little girl about 6 years old, spoke up to her father exclaiming, “that is the saddest parrot I have ever seen!”
I’m not sure how she knew that this bird was sad, but she was probably right. A parrot is not created to be confined to a small, dark tent with makeshift roller skates on its feet. It is created to fly, perch, eat, and chirp!
The same is true of you and I (well, not the chirping). We are created for a purpose. Whenever we are doing something other than what we were created to do – we are not as joyful and content as we could be.
So, what are we created for? What is our true purpose?
Colossians 1:15-16 (printed above) says that everything was created BY God and FOR God. That means that you and I are on this earth to serve God. All our efforts – at home, at work, on vacation – should be focused on serving the Creator.
Ephesians 4:1-3 says: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Now that's a purpose!
Matthew 25 famously states: “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine... you did for me.’” The point here is that we can serve God by serving others.
Serving God can be the lens through which we see everything in life. For example, I am so grateful for the gift of
laughter and the gift of
music. These are so important to me. But, I realize if they are not used to honor and glorify God – I’ve missed why they were created in the first place. In other words, I have to remember that laughter and music were created BY God, to be used FOR Him.
When we’re living life doing what we were created for – we can find contentment, even in times of difficulty. Otherwise, we’re just skating in circles.
God bless you!
Gary
