The You God Sees 6.

“God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposes, in His Sovereign will, that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that everything which exists in Heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him.” (Ephesians 1: 9 & 10 Phillips)

There is a reason for our existence. Human history is not a cosmic accident! Life, as we know it is planned. God has a purpose and we are major players in its enactment.

Evidence for this is plentiful. Something innate to our nature reveals that we are to be a significant part of this drama. We hope for it.

God has created us in such a way that we’re attracted by our desires to things that are important to us. We’re hungry and want to eat because we need food. We’re thirsty because we need water. Our libido is the powerful force that stimulates the necessary desire to mate and procreate. We seek pleasure because “laughter is the best medicine.” Kind of “daahhh!” things wouldn’t you say? Well yes and no! These are statements of the obvious. But they are also principles that can be found in less obvious drives within us. One such drive is this longing to have a purpose. Most, if not all, of us have it. We want to make a difference. Just like hunger reveals our need for water so this compulsion confirms we need a mission.

Our frustrations in life come from our attempts to define and fulfill this purpose by ourselves. The materialist believes our purposes are fulfilled in the evolutionary process. Unconsciously we are being swept along on this stream of self-improvement reaching ever higher forms of existence without even realizing it and ultimately dying completely oblivious to it. Empire after Empire, in its rising and falling, has demonstrated the foolishness of such a notion. Christ, Paul is assuring us, will bring about our fulfillment. We will find our purpose in relationship with Him.

Look at the language. “(A)ll human history shall be consummated in Christ.” Our highest purposes as God’s creative Masterpiece are explained and achieved in Christ. That’s what “consummated “ means. The union of a man and woman in Marriage is “consummated,” in the intimate bond which, unlike any other form of intimacy, generates another human life and perpetuates our species. Likewise, union with Christ, as His Spirit enters us and bonds us with Him, generates in us supernatural powers which enliven us for the magnificent, timeless purpose which has been ours since God made us. We become – in this union with the Spirit of Christ – wholly the person we’re designed to be. More importantly, our purpose individually, and as the noble race we are, is fulfilled. Collectively – our uniqueness uncompromised – in collaboration with our Trinitarian God we realize His highest purpose: a universe of beings living like Himself – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – in perfect, sacrificial love.

For us this is a dream; a vision that excites and stirs deep longings in us. For God it is present reality; the eternal “Now.” It is who you long to be; because it’s who you’re meant to be. It is “the You God Sees.”