By Harry L. Poe
When someone decides our life for us, we have no choices of our own. But that is not what is taking place in these passages. These passages do not refer to God's activity as a parent. Instead, these are the words of God the creator. He is the same God, but in a different function, or different way of relating to us. When God says "I know the plans I have for you," it is up to us whether or not we will follow the plan.
The sad story of Israel is that Israel decided not to follow the plan. The tragic story of King Saul is that King Saul decided not to follow the plan. We have choices, but God has choices, too. When Saul would not follow the plan, God worked with David. David messed up every way you can mess up, but he kept saying "I want to follow the plan." With that attitude, God can always use us and show us our purpose again and again and again.
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Though the Bible does not speak of purpose so much in relation to us, there is a biblical term that is used. We say things one way in the twenty-first century, but two thousand or three thousand years ago people thought in different ways. There is a term that refers to what we today call "purpose." The Bible speaks in terms of "calling." Calling comes from outside. It is not deterministic, because with calling there is always the option of refusing to answer the call. It is not set in stone; it is the invitation of God.
We find our purpose in relation to the Creator who calls us, each in different ways, each with lives that are unique and yet purposeful so that we do not need to envy someone else's life. We do not need to covet someone else and their achievements. We do not need to feel inferior or inadequate in relation to others because every single person is called by God, who made us with a purpose.
He still calls. Those who are in Christ Jesus, he continually calls out of our distractions, out of our preoccupations, and out of our lethargy to this wonderful plan He has. Those who are not in Christ Jesus, He calls to be His children — to be a part of this wonderful plan. It is not finished yet, but when it is finished, all those in Christ Jesus will be a part of it.
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Harry L. Poe is the Colson Professor of Faith and Culture at Union University in Jackson, TN.