Purpose

“St. Maximos the Confessor writes about three “incarnations” of the Logos: Creation, the Scriptures, and the God/Man, Jesus Christ. The depths of this are beyond the scope of this article. However, in simple terms, we can say in the words of St. Paul that “God has purposed to gather together in one all things in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:10). That “gathering together in one” would be an exercise in oppression were it not the case that all things that were created have as their inmost purpose that very same gathering. Everything has as its purpose, its end, its logos, which is a reflection of the Logos. All of creation groans – longing for its union in Christ – its eternal purpose.” (Father Stephen Freeman)

“Every person has a slightly different perception of God, just as different people perceive the same person in slightly different ways. Even two brothers can perceive their parents individually. And it is clear that God is Who He is, but for me personally God is meaning in Himself and gives this meaning to all things. He gives this meaning to life, to every human being, to every event in his life, and to everything that happens in the world. After all, if there is no God, then whatever I have achieved or whatever I have lost makes no sense at all. But if there is a God and He cares for everything, then whatever I do, whatever decisions I make, and whatever happens in the world makes sense, and it’s not in vain. For me personally it is an important part of the perception of God—giving the meaning. God, as the Absolute, gives absolute meaning to absolutely everything. Therefore, for the life of a person’s eternal soul, for his earthly existence, for the life of plants and animals, for environmental issues and universal catastrophes all this is endowed with meaning.” (Priest Alexei Shishkin)

“Who endured in the prisons? Who survived in concentration camps? Who endured during suffering, persecution, genocide, and famine? Those who had purpose. According to numerous studies, people in hospitals recover much quicker if they believe in a higher purpose in their life. Those who have meaning and values that they live for… It’s important for us to understand why we’re crucified in our lives.” (Fr. Charalampos Papadopoulos)

“St. Paul said, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose (NIV Romans 8:28). We might say that God, the source of all that exists, works in all things. But for those who “love him,” “those who are called according to His purpose, He works for good. Moreover, just as He did for Philip, He opens up possibilities for our witness if we are attuned to His will.” (Fr. Basil)

“No instrument or tool accomplishes its purposes without a greater power...We are useful only to the extent that we allow God to use us. If God has given us resources and special talents, we must not regard them as our own creation or special privilege…If we live in but not for the world, then our life in the body can assume a new purpose. Like Paul, we can devote ourselves to the relationships and needs of others. Indeed, we can trust that God will give us life in the body as long as it is His will that we remain here to love those who need us.” (Life Application Study Bible, Isaiah 10:15, Fr. Basil)

“It should be common knowledge (though it is not) that the whole of our purpose in this life is communion with God, and, together with Him, communion with all of creation. In the darkness of our present world, we imagine such things as communion to be a “lifestyle” choice, a term that describes little more than a reasonable relationship.” (Father Stephen Freeman)

“Our purpose in life is union with Christ, an increase in Him and a decrease in self. Through this union and increase/decrease we become filled with the Holy Spirit and become who we are meant to be, and do the good works we are meant to do. Because of sin, the damage to our will and ability to think clearly, we perceive decrease to self to be giving up something instead of gaining the ultimate something - Him. Therefore, we resist our true calling and spend time trying to create a life of ease, comfort, security and other things that actually may feel good and right at the moment, but stunt our growth as persons, and thus fail to lead others to Christ.” (Sacramental Living Ministries)

“The first divine decree about man is that he should be in living union with God, and this union consists of living in God with the mind in the heart: thus anyone who aims at such a life, and still more anyone who participates in it to some extent, can be said to fulfill the purpose in life for which he was created. Those who seek this living union should understand what they are trying to do, and not be troubled at their lack of achievement in any specially important external feats. This work by itself embraces all other action.” (St. Theophan the Recluse)

“When humans fail to see God’s presence and will in the created order, they treat the physical world as an object which they can treat and do with as they please. Only when we remember we did create the world, nor do we really own it, but rather we are stewards appointed by God to take care of His creation, do we fulfill our own purpose in creation and help the rest of the created order attain its God-given purpose.” (Fr. Ted Bobosh)

“And it is concerning this life of the world to come that Christ points his hearers in today's Gospel reading [Luke 20:1-8], in particularly strident and dire terms. While it may seem that there is no purpose in this life but to gratify ones' desires, even at the expense of others, and while it may seem that if one manages to escape negative consequences for one's actions in this life, there will be no such consequences, the truth is that in the end there will be a reckoning. In the end, every one of us will stand before his or her creator and judge to give an account, and all that which has not been corrected, has not been restored, or has not seen justice done in this life will see justice in the next. Those who have received good things in this life at the expense of others will face the loss of everything. Those who wasted their lives chasing after those things which pass away will have nothing to show for themselves. Those who thought they had an unlimited time to repent and make things right will discover, to their sorrow, that their time is up.” (Fr. Stephen De Young)

“Each of us is born into this world with an instinctive desire to find meaning and purpose in our lives…I say, as do all Christian men, that it is a divine purpose that rules, and not fate…Many people have accepted that life must be meaningless on the basis of the secular worldview, but hardly any of them live consistently with that belief. People who believe life has no meaning or purpose and that objective truth is a delusion will actually take on convincing you that it is true that there is no truth or meaning as the purpose that gives meaning to their lives! This is not just ironic. It is also self-contradictory. It is self-referentially absurd. It cannot be true. Such people simply cannot be right.” (Kevin Scherer, Alfred the Great, Donald Williams)

We wonder, “Does evil serve a purpose?” The mistakes we have made, or even the terrible tragedies and catastrophes across our history would seem somehow more acceptable if we could see them playing a role in some later, greater good. Our faith does not reconcile evil with good. Rather, it tells us that good overcomes evil and moves towards its end in a manner that, while not abolishing evil from the story of things, makes the story to be what evil sought to prevent. The story of Joseph in Egypt is a primary example. His brothers’ evil action in selling him as a slave to the Egyptians is “undone” or “overcome” after a fashion. He says to them, “You meant it to me for evil, but the Lord meant it to me for good.” Of course, the Cross is the greatest of such examples. The powers of this world meant it for one thing, but the Lord meant it for His own great goodness – the redemption of all things.” (Father Stephen Freeman)

“… though God is Lord of history, he does not coerce or force obedience and conformity to his will. Coerced conformity is dehumanization, whereas fulfilled humanity - which is the divinization of human life - must be free, since God is free. This raises the question of Divine Providence and Human Responsibility….Christianity holds these two in paradoxical tension: man is responsible and must act, but God accomplishes his will, either with or in spite of man's actions. Ideally, human actions are harmoniously integrated with divine purposes in a perfect synergy of divine and human wills. This belief is but an extension and application of the…doctrine of the divine and human natures in the one person of Jesus Christ. Ethically, this means that we are not permitted simply to wait upon God. Rather, we are committed to the exercise of self-determination and responsibility in conformity with both human reality and divine purpose…” (Rev. Dr. Stanley S. Harakas)

“Of course, we encounter any number of difficulties and hardships, things that seem to work the opposite of our well-being and salvation. Those actions of human freedom are not considered God’s Providence. But even with these things, God’s Providential working makes our well-being and salvation possible, such that St. Paul can say, “For those who love God and are called according to His purpose, all things work together for good.” (Father Stephen Freeman)

“The Nicene Creed begins by defining the divine Father and concludes with our desire to be with Him forever. Here is the ultimate purpose of life. All that happens from birth to death plays a part in our salvation. Here is the true peace that transcends all comprehension. Here is where the believer will uncover the secret joy within the soul. Only Christ can deliver such ecstasy. Here is why Jesus compels us to get beyond mourning and greet the everlasting morning that has no evening.” (Fr. Vladimir Berzonsky)

“God chooses according to His divine purposes. Our task is to pray, believe, and to trust...Our perspective can also become distorted by pride if we fail to recognize that God is working His purposes through us.” (Life Application Study Bible, 2 Corinthians 12:7-8, Isaiah 10:12)

“Since it is not possible for us to see the whole picture from God’s perspective, we must exercise faith and believe that the God of all the earth will do right and that all things do work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” (Foundation Study Bible, Genesis 45:5)

“We are foolish to try to fit God into our mold—to make His plans and purposes conform to ours. Instead, we must strive to fit into His plans…A sincere purpose to please God will result in an alignment of your desires with God’s desires.” (Life Application Study Bible, Isaiah 55:8-9, Psalm 97:10)

“For you will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John…You will never find your deepest purpose in life until you find your place in building God’s kingdom.” (C. S. Lewis, Richard Stearns)

“We are sacramental by nature, always seeking meaning and purpose in the things around us. This is one of the things which defines us as human beings…The ultimate purpose of man's existence is to attain the glory of God....The glory of God is both eternal righteousness and eternal life.” (Archpriest Lawrence Cross, Orthodox Study Bible, Romans 3:23)

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