non-denominational

Your Life And What Comes After (8): Has God’s Purpose Changed?

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I had a friend named Adriana back in the day. One day at school, Adriana announced that she had a new goal: she wanted to learn how to ski. That Saturday morning, she went to a sporting goods store, bought skis, boots, and poles, and signed up for lessons.

The very next day, Adriana slipped on the sidewalk, fell, and broke her ankle.

The next time I saw her, she had a cast up to her shin and was walking on crutches. I asked her if skiing was still part of the plan.

“Of course it is,” she said. “But now my goal is for my foot to heal—then I’ll learn how to ski.”

That’s a pretty good picture of how God’s grand plan works.

The Plan Didn’t Change—The Path Did

When Adam and Eve rebelled, they shattered their perfect relationship with God and threw His good creation into chaos.

Scripture puts it this way:

Genesis 3:17b–19


Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.

But here’s the key: humanity’s rebellion didn’t cancel God’s purpose. It didn’t force Him to scrap the plan. It only changed the route.

What Now?

The original purpose still stands—but first, the “broken ankle” has to be healed.

Everything in the Bible after the big rebellion is the story of God fixing what was broken. He does that by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to restore the relationship humanity destroyed and to bring creation back on track.

Our purpose hasn’t disappeared. We were still made to reflect God’s image, take care of His creation, and live in real relationship with Him—to walk with Him, talk with Him, and know Him as a loving Father.

But now, there’s more.

A New Layer of Purpose

If you follow Jesus, you don’t just benefit from restoration—you’re recruited into it.

We now share in God’s mission of bringing people back to Himself.

2 Corinthians 6:1


We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Let that sink in. God invites ordinary people—people like you and me—to participate in His rescue plan. He lets us play a role in restoring His family and preparing us all for our true home: a renewed heaven and earth.

2 Corinthians 5:18–20


And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

That’s not passive faith. That’s purpose with skin on it.

So what does that actually look like in everyday life? How do we live as God’s mirrors in the real world?

That’s where we’re headed next.

Your Life And What Comes After (6): Why God Created Everything

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Why did the man in our story build a house? Because he wanted to use his carpentry skills, show his ability at house-building, and—most importantly—create a place to share with his family, a place they could call their own.

He built a home where they could live in and enjoy life together. His children could arrange their own rooms and paint the walls their favorite colors. His wife could plant and care for a garden. They could put up a swing set or play volleyball with friends out in the big backyard.

They could add rooms and other spaces as needed, build a treehouse in the big oak tree out front, plant more trees and shrubs around the property, and watch them grow over time. They could add value to the home that was already built.

The man’s home was a workspace, a playground, and a wonderful place for him and his family to live together.

That is why the man built his house—to be a home.

And that is why God created the universe—to be a home for His family.

What Does God Want?

God desires a family to love—and to love Him in return. The world is the home God built for His family. We are the family with whom our Heavenly Father seeks to share His love, life, and goodness.

Ephesians 1:4–5 (KJV)
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will…

There it is again: “the good pleasure of his will.” God created the universe because it pleased Him to build a home for the family He desires.

And that family is us—you and me. We are the objects of the Creator’s endless, limitless love.

So What?

Now we know what God’s purpose in creating everything was—and still is. But what about us? What about you and me?

How do we fit into God’s grand plan and purposes? What is our purpose, and how is it connected to God’s purpose?

We will dig into the answers to those questions—so stay tuned.

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Book Of Joshua

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Here are four awesome quotes about the sixth book of the Bible, Joshua.

Origen of Alexandria (3rd century)

“Joshua, the son of Nun, is a figure of Jesus Christ; for he leads the people into the promised land, as Jesus leads believers into the kingdom of heaven.”
— Homilies on Joshua

Augustine of Hippo (4th–5th century)

“It was not Moses, but Joshua, who led the people into the land of promise—showing that the Law brings us to the border, but grace brings us in.”
— Sermons on the Old Testament

John Calvin (16th century)

“In the victories of Joshua, God displayed that the land was given not by human strength, but by His own hand and promise.”
— Commentary on the Book of Joshua

Matthew Henry (17th–18th century)

“Joshua’s book is a record of God’s faithfulness in the performance of His promises, and of Israel’s duty in the enjoyment of them.”
— Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Joshua

Your Life And What Comes After (5): Building A House

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There was a man several years ago who moved with his family to an area of the country where he had never lived before. He was a total stranger in the new town.

The man was a skilled carpenter by trade, but no one in the entire county knew that—or anything else about him.

After living in a small rented cottage with his wife and children for a few months, the man set about building a new house in which to live.

He took his time and worked hard and carefully on the house because he wanted the final result to reflect his great skill and workmanship. He used quality woods, such as cedar and fir, because only the very best materials would do for his new home.

After a year or so, he finished building the house, with his family name in magnificent carved oak set above the front door as a finishing touch. It was beautiful. In fact, it was the most beautiful house in the entire area. People would stop as they passed by to look at it, and they were amazed at the man’s skill and wisdom in house-building.

Now everyone for miles around in that county knows who the man is, and his name has become famous there.

God Builds a House

So, why did God create the universe and everything in it, including you and me?

To answer that question, we should look at what God Himself says. One of the main ways God speaks to us is through the Bible, so let’s look there.

Psalm 19:1 (KJV)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

God made the whole universe and everything in it to show who He is—to display His glory, power, wisdom, and love. Why? Because it pleased Him to do so.

And because He wanted to share His creation with someone. More on that to come.

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Book Of Deuteronomy

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Here are four interesting and insightful quotes about the fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

“Deuteronomy is the great book of moral and spiritual challenge, calling on each generation to see itself as part of the covenant story and to choose the way of life.”
— Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

John Wesley

“In Deuteronomy, God gives His people a second law, not because the first failed, but to press it upon their hearts with greater earnestness and love.”
— John Wesley, Methodist founder

Christopher J.H. Wright

“Deuteronomy is a manifesto of God’s mission—revealing how a redeemed people are to live differently in a world of injustice, idolatry, and oppression.”
— Christopher J.H. Wright, Old Testament scholar

Matthew Henry

“The book of Deuteronomy renews the covenant and reminds us that God’s laws are given for our good, to keep us close to Him and safe from the snares of the world.”
— Matthew Henry, Bible commentator