Godly Purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Godly Purpose - Essay Example As creatures created in God’s image, humans have a unique opportunity to fulfill divine purpose in their lives. Some never move beyond self-gratification and seek only to achieve worldly success measured by cultural conceptions. God created all humans in his image. This applies whether a person chooses to believe in God or not. God created humans to have a capacity for a relationship with him, to be able to think and feel affection and emotion, and with the ability to think, understand, and determine morality. From the very beginning, God’s plan included humans, with a desire to create a being that could relate to him. He said, â€Å"Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,† indicating a purpose to his decisions that mankind â€Å"may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground† (New International Version, Genesis 1.26). One may never re alize the divine opportunity that humanity offers. Instead of embracing a life that honors God and fulfills his divine purpose, one may choose to accept a lifestyle that relies on cultural conceptions such as economics, social constructs, survival, sexuality, and self-gratification. ... not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving† (Eph 3.3-4). In addition to identifying activity and behaviors to avoid, God also provides a guide of what he expects if one is to live in a way that mirrors his image. Through the words of Paul, he communicates, â€Å"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace† (Eph 4.1-3). In Romans, one is encouraged to â€Å"not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind† (Rom 12.2). Throughout the Bible, God provides one with instruction and encouragement. Promises temper what may appear to be a daunting task to one encumbered by the intrinsic weaknesses and frailty of humankind. Paul communicates one such promise in a letter to the church at Corinthians, saying, â€Å"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate  the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit† (2 Cor 3.18). These promises provide one with hope, even when individual choices and actions make adhering to God’s design a challenge. The promises indicate that God understands and accepts the imperfections of humans as long as they are working toward his will. One must set an example for others to follow. The Bible uses the analogy of light to demonstrate how one can do this. Paul states, â€Å"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of