Young people all over the world, irrespective of their diverse backgrounds, are not ignorant of the idea of purpose. People believe—or want to believe—that their lives should count for something. They hope that there is more to their consciousness than just existence, and they are right in believing so. God didn’t just create us without reason; there is a “why” behind our existence to be discovered.
Unfortunately, despite the wide awakening to this reality, many still go through life never discovering their true purpose. As God’s children, it is not His desire that we remain in the dark concerning this matter. 1 Peter 2:9 explains this further: we’ve been called into God’s light, and in His light, we have access to all truth. God wants us to know why He’s made us who we are, placed us where we are, and brought us forth for such a time as this. We ought not to be ignorant of what He expects of us. So, let us look into the manual for life—His Word—and see how to discover His perfect plan for each and every one of our lives.
Answer the call
The Scriptures show us that God expects our lives to be defined by purpose right from a very young age. Our youthfulness is not to be spent gallivanting in darkness but labouring in God’s heavenly vision for our lives (Psalm 90:12). We are to account for how we live each and every one of our days, exchanging the currency of time with value. This is why He calls us to Himself as young people in Ecclesiastes 12:1. The first step to discovering purpose is answering the call to walk with God. Our primary purpose as God’s creation is to dwell in fellowship with Him; everything else flows from there. It is in our relationship with the designer of our lives that we gain clear insight into His perfect design for us. You must first answer the call to fellowship with Him. Then He, the architect of it all, will introduce you to your life’s blueprint. This call invites you into a lifelong partnership of Father and child as He leads you every step of the way into becoming all He created you to be.
Know who you are
Once called into the family of God, it is important to know your identity as His child. This is crucial because your purpose is entirely dependent on your identity. Until you know who you are, you cannot know where you’re going or why you ought to go in any particular direction. The beauty is that our Father has graced us with a dictionary abundant in the description of our identity. Here are some Scriptures that help us discover who we are in His sight: Genesis 1:27, Matthew 5:13–16 & 48, Matthew 6:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 1 Peter 2:9, to name a few. These Scriptures show that God has made us like Himself, called us to Himself, and requires that we be extensions of His person to our world. Our first call is to Him—then to extend Him as reflections of His glory to those yet to know Him. We are His conduits and vessels for “Kingdom Come.” This means sharing His Gospel, living His Gospel, and behaving in a manner worthy of Him. This can be done in several ways, such as discovering a human need, meeting that need (as God empowers you to do so), and ultimately pointing the needy to God as their source—so they too can draw from His wells of salvation. What an honour and privilege this is! So now that you are aware of your identity as God's child, you must begin to own it and express the fruits thereof in all that you do. Romans 8:19 lets us know that the whole world is on its toes, waiting for us to shine as God's Children. So be bold about your identity and shine wherever you are.
For such a time as this
Another key thing to consider in discovering purpose is that purpose isn’t separate from timing. There are unique burdens and issues we face in our time today like no other point in history. As we witness these burdens, we must know that they cannot be solved by the solution agents of yesterday or those who will arrive on the scene tomorrow. We are the solution providers called to address the burdens we witness firsthand today. Remember Mordecai’s admonition to Queen Esther in Esther 4:14—he stated that God intentionally placed her where she was for the salvation of His people in that day. What do you see in your world that breaks your heart—and certainly breaks God’s heart? Is it the lost souls of men wandering in darkness? Is it the corrupt character of people in leadership and government? Is it the forgotten of society, plagued by poverty and hunger? Perhaps that burden in your heart just might be your call—for such a time as this. Be courageous to answer the call and be the solution the world is waiting for.
Stay focused
Finally, now that you have heard these words and cannot wait to set off on your journey of purpose, I must admonish you to stay focused. Resist the temptation to look at another man’s field in determining what your purpose is or how well you are doing on that path. God doesn’t do one-size-fits-all—He is personal. Seek what He asks of you, not your neighbour, colleague, or friend, because in the end, you will give an account based on your own assignment, not theirs. Set your gaze on what God is asking of you, and measure yourself against that scale. There is peace and clarity when your eyes are fixed on the path He has carved specifically for you.
In closing
In the days to come, as you seek to discover that God-given purpose, prayerfully approach God, knowing that all things true begin in partnership with Him. Let your heart be after the things of His heart (Matthew 6:33) so that His burdens will be your burdens, and you can fully share in being an extension of Him here on earth.
God bless you all, and I pray that the Lord will be your strength and guide on this journey of purpose. May you walk in His wisdom, rest in His love, and continually have your sufficiency be of Him.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our Dad, Rev. Ayuba John Bassa, and his lovely wife for raising us up in God’s Word. I would also like to thank Pastor David Meshach for the opportunity to be a part of the shining youths of COCIN Asokoro, privileged to write in this magazine.
Thank you, and God bless you all richly.