Change Your World Pt. 1
Pastor Ryan Binkly
5 minute read
Do you ever feel like you are searching for a higher purpose in life? As both a pastor and business executive, I find people will search endlessly for their life’s purpose. The good news is that you and I were created with a specific purpose in mind, and that purpose was planned by God from the beginning!
When Ellie and I started on the journey to launch Create Church, we had no idea where God would take it. He showed us four key principles to center the church on, and one of them was to help people discover their purpose.
In Ephesians 2:10, it says, “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”
Living a courageous life starts with recognizing that God is with you, no matter where you go. In Joshua 1:9, it says, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Knowing that God is with us gives us the strength to take on any challenge that comes our way.
God gave this commandment to Joshua before the nation of Israel would launch a military campaign to conquer the land of Israel based on a promise that God had given them. Just because God has promised you something doesn’t mean you will not have to contend with enemies. Often your purpose can be found within your battle.
It’s also important to understand the times we are living in and to know what we should do about it. The sons of Issachar, as described in I Chronicles 12:32, had understanding of the times and knew what they should do. Like them, we should not just see the obvious, but be able to discern the signs of the times and take action. Noah, as described in Hebrews 11:7, was able to build an ark to save his family, even when he couldn’t see the results of his faith.
Can you imagine the burden Noah felt? Despite the intense social scrutiny he felt, he knew building a boat in a world that had never seen rain was God’s purpose for him!
However, not everyone is willing to follow this path. Many of Jesus’ disciples, as described in John 6:66, turned back from following Him because of the difficulty of His teachings. Yet, the teachings of Jesus bring life, as described in John 6:51.
Those disciples could have used a dose of Noah’s faith. God’s purpose can often sound impossible. When Create Church looked at building a permanent home, I had a dream about an economic resurgence throughout Richardson, but the only land in Richardson that seemed suitable for Create costed way too much money and was already under several contracts. I remember praying for that piece of land from the church across the street, moved to tears because this is what God had called us to!
One by one, the contracts over the land began to fall through until I got a call one day that said the first one to have a $140k check in hand could purchase the land. Mere hours later, we turned in that check and purchased the land that Create sits on today. When God’s called you to something, all you have to do is follow His purpose!
In conclusion, living a courageous life means having a strong faith in God, recognizing the times we are living in, and following the path that God has set for us, even if it is difficult. Remember, you were created for a purpose, and God is with you every step of the way. So be strong, be courageous, and live the life that God has planned for you.