Come, Let Us Reason Together
What is the purpose of your life?
By W. Flemon McIntosh Jr.
For The News Herald

All life is given for a purpose: We are to be something grand. Grand, not as the world knows the meaning of grand. Go the put it well: “Man exist for culture; not for what he can accomplish, but for what can be accomplished in him.

Paley came back and said many years ago, “Doing good is not the whole of our duty, nor is it the most difficult part of it. Our chief aim is, and always will be, being good.”

Another great writer put it this way, “The most important part of life, and the blessing on all our work is the immortal principle that is embodied in it. If our work is the expression of the life of God in us, it will abide. “And to put it all in a nutshell, Emerson puts it well in this statement: “I cannot hear what you say because of what you are.”

If there is one need of mankind, it must be self control. We can have this self control if we let Christ control us. When you exchange self will for his will, then you are on the right road in life.

Many of the problems that we are having in our lives were and are caused by us. There are many forces out there trying to get control of our lives. In some nations, the government has control, and the people are second. We lose ourselves many times because of disappointments. The worst thing that can happen to you is when these disappointments come. Do not stop, for you must keep going.

Many will stop and mark time, but we must never give into despair. There are times when we throw in the towel and just quit. There are times when doors will be closed in your face, and you run for another door, and it will get locked for you as well.

There are many accounts of people who had doors shut in their faces, or they came upon very serious disappointments, but they did not stop. These people had a purpose in life, and they stayed with the game plan.

The story is told about Thomas Edison, the man who gave our world some wonderful inventions. There was a night when a great fire took place at his Menlo Park laboratory and everything was lost.
His son, Charles, described the scene. He said he saw his father standing there with his white hair, sparse and thin, blowing in the breeze, He said as he looked at his father his heart went out to him.

Thomas Edison was then 67 years of age, not a young man any longer. Then he said, My dad saw me and called out, “Charles, go get your mother and bring her here, she will never see anything like this as long as she lives.”

The next morning Edison said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew,” and he did.

When we have these disappointments, we must keep moving with the plan. So many people reach third base and never make it in to home plate. They die on third. We must learn to be patient, for the storms do not last forever. Regardless of the source of the storm, we must keep waiting affirmatively and positively in prayer for God’s strength to return to our lives.

When the storms are raging, it is time for us to keep our cool, and rely upon that inner strength to work for us. When we discover ourselves in the midst of the storm, shy away from making negative decisions. Check your mood, and just ride out the storm until the sunshine appears.

Many people have done things in the heat of the battle that bring about serious and lifelong regrets. During our weak moments, temptations will come by the truck loads. The Devil is always there when we are down and out. Some people that you thought were your friends can cause you much trouble at your weak times.

If you have a strong purpose in life, the proper solutions will find their way into your life.

We must learn to succeed in small things. When we do, our goals will come into being. There is some pleasure in being able to do things that people say you cannot do. The key to all of it is having a good plan, regardless of the work involved. When the purpose is good, give it all that you have.

W. Flemon McIntosh Jr., is the senior columnist for The News Herald, and is pastor of Green Street Presbyterian Church, USA.

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