The Paradox of Purpose
I have been thinking about this topic for the past two weeks … The Paradox of Purpose.
The more I consider it, the deeper it gets. The longer I meditate on it, the more I understand.
As believers, we live in an upside down kingdom.
The last shall be first. The least shall be greatest. The lost shall be found. Blessed are the pure in heart … and the poor in spirit. Sell your possessions, give the money to the poor. All of this (and so much more) points to a polar opposite perspective from the world’s ways.
This post will not be deeply theological. I simply want to share my heart.
The older I get … or should I say, the longer I live … I realize more and more how little attachment I have to this world.
I long to be like Jesus, to love like Jesus, to live like Jesus.
He showed us how to live with a heart on fire - being IN the world but not OF the world.
I have been thinking a lot lately about how much I dislike the Internet and social media. If it were totally up to me, I would disappear from all of it. And I have, for long periods of time. I have let go of big “followings” and started from scratch on multiple occasions, and although it is somewhat of a necessary evil, I would be happier without it.
I have chosen solitude and hiddenness over visibility for many years. Yet, I feel the Lord drawing me out … and I know “to everything there is a season.” I also know the power of using the world wide web to reach the lost. That is what drives me most.
My business requires a certain level of interaction online in order to communicate and connect. But in general, this online life, is just not for me. It has destroyed the human connection … and that is what my heart desires. I want eyeball to eyeball, belly to belly, hugs and holding hands, laughter, conversation, and joy shared in real life and real time. I want heartfelt interactions - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the awesome - including the pain, the grief, the loss, and the struggle.
I want real life with real people, the unmistakably raw and real, with zero question about what is Artificially Intelligent.
When I look into your eyes, I see your soul. Period.
This is the way Jesus did life, and the effects of those interactions are as important and impactful today, as they were 2000 years ago.
I don’t care about following, fame, or fortune. I’ve had it all. I care about obeying Jesus and following Him alone.
I want to know Him and be known by Him. Nothing else matters. I want to hear Him say, “Well done,” and whatever that looks like on this side of eternity … that is what I want.
I am stuck on Revelation 3:16 right now … “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
I want to be hot, not cold, and certainly not lukewarm - and I want to walk that out with passion and purpose every day of my life - every second of every day of my life.
Jesus only did what He saw His Father do, and He only said what He heard His Father say. Souls are waiting, hanging in limbo, living in pain … and we have to reach them … to pluck them out of the fire, to lift them out of the mud and the mire, and to help set their feet on the solid Rock.
If not now, then when? If not YOU, then who?
I burn. My bones ache. My soul hurts for what hurts Him.
Life is short. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is not promised. Today is all we have.
Let’s be about the Father’s business.