2 Chronicles 11-13 / Romans 8:26-39 / Psalm 18:37-50 / Proverbs 19:27-29
All of us wonder why we were put here on earth. We all wonder what our purpose is. Are we simply marking time, or is there a reason we were born in this world during this exact moment in history? These are great questions that every person who has ever lived has likely asked. But to whom are we asking this question? And who has the answer?
Created things must look to that which is the creator to find out purpose and function. Inanimate objects cannot of course ask these questions, but it is the creator of them who knows their purpose. If people are here that means they were created. Some would say, “I was created by my parents. End of story.” While that is true, life would not exist without an initial Creator, which I assert is God.
If God created me, and I believe He did, and He created me in His image, which He did, He is the One who knows my purpose. I can answer only for myself based on my journey and my experience of God and life. I want to walk with you through two verses.
Romans 8:29-30 For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.
What did God “do” in these two verses? He knew – He chose – He called – He gave – He gave. You know the routine! We are going to find out what we’ve been given as those who have been chosen.
First of all, who doesn’t relish the idea of being chosen? Do you remember in school when it was time for P.E. and the captains had to choose teams? No one wanted to be chosen last. Everyone wants to be chosen first but chosen second or third is better than chosen last. And chosen is better than left behind!
I feel loved knowing God chose me. Before He chose me, He knew me. How can that be? In Psalm 139:16 it states, “You saw who You created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days You planned for me were already recorded in Your book.”
Even before I was created by my parents’ union, God knew who I was. I think that’s why my dad could name me 3 years before I was born! That knowledge was already out there in the Spirit world and my dad being a hearer of God’s voice (even before He knew he belonged to God) heard God speak about his first child. God knew.
I’m known and chosen. What else has God done for me? He called me to come to Him. In the Strong’s Concordance in the Hebrew language, the word for “called” is “kaleo”, which means to utter in a loud voice, or to give a name to. This is not just my name Maria that is being spoken of here. When God gives me “a name”, He is saying, “You are Mine.” For those who are fans of The Chosen series (which I’ve mentioned before), you will remember in Season 1, Episode 1 that Mary memorized the following verse as a child.
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, and He who formed you, Israel. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are Mine!”
That word for “name” is “shem”, which means a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character. In other words,
God is acknowledging that we are unlike anyone else and that He knows us intimately.
What about the final two statements? He gave us right standing, and He gave us His glory. He gave us right standing through Jesus Christ and we have been made righteous or right with God in relationship. What did He give us when He gave us His glory? That word is “doxazo” which means to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged. My perspective on that is that God gave us His reputation, putting His stamp of approval on us because of Jesus Christ.
I hope you feel loved and encouraged by this short study! I sure do. I am in awe, as always, that the God of the universe would love me so much to foreknow, choose, call, and give me the gifts of righteousness and His glory. I’m not sure I’ll grasp the weight of these gifts until I see Him face to face.
