International Version says, “Moses recorded the stages in their
journey.”Your life is a journey, and a journey deserves a journal. I
hope you will write about the stages of your spiritual journey in
living a purpose-driven life.
Don’t just write down the pleasant things. As David did, record
your doubts, fears, and struggles with God. Our greatest lessons
come out of pain, and the Bible says God keeps a record of our
tears.^10 Whenever problems occur, remember that God uses them
to fulfill all fivepurposes in your life: Problems force you to focus
on God, draw you closer to others in fellowship, build Christlike
character, provide you with a ministry, and give you a testimony.
Every problem is purpose-driven.
In the middle of a painful experience, the psalmist wrote,
“Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so
that people not yet born will praise him.”^11 You owe it to future
generations to preserve the testimony of how God helped you
fulfill his purposes on earth. It is a witness that will continue to
speak long after you’re in heaven.
Pass on what you know to others.If you want to keep
growing, the best way to learn more is to pass on what you have
already learned. Proverbs tells us, “The one who blesses others is
abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”^12 Those who
pass along insights get more from God.
Now that you understand the purpose of life, it is your
responsibility to carry the message to others. God is calling you to
be his messenger. Paul said, “Now I
want you to tell these same things to
followers who can be trusted to tell
others.”^13 In this book I have passed
on to you what others taught me
about the purpose of life; now it’s
your duty to pass that on to others.
You probably know hundreds of
people who do not know the
PURPOSE #5: You Were Made for a Mission 309
You owe it to future generations
to preserve the testimony
of how God helped you fulfill
his purposes on earth.