The Ever-Present Purpose…

Purpose is very important, not only a passing purpose, but a permanent purpose⎯the purpose of life, the purpose of living, the purpose that comes with a conviction of things we can count on⎯a conviction that we and the universe were created for a purpose.

Life would not seem to mean much if a purpose were not apparent. One cannot study chemistry, biology, physics or any part of natural law without seeing the imprint of intelligence, the imprint of order, the imprint of purpose. And inherent in man, made in the image of God, there is an ever-present purpose⎯the purpose of time, the purpose of eternity; not just to live out a few years of life, but to learn, to work, to improve, to repent, to acquire knowledge, to control appetites, to cultivate virtue, to become comfortable in the most honorable and honored kind of company, and to be entitled to the limitless opportunities of everlasting life. This is the purpose⎯and there are requirements for qualifying.

We live in “a world” said Arthur Hugh Clough, “where nothing is had for nothing.” And the price of all things, the purpose of all things, we ought and need to know. “Ignorance,” said Disraeli, “never settles a question.” We have an obligation to search and seek, and not to become discouraged in the searching, and learning, and doing; in the purposeful, useful day to day living of life.

“In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life,” wrote Robert Frost: “It goes on….”

And for the present and the future we need such faith as is found in these words by an author of unknown name: “There are no limitations to what you can do except the limitations of your own mind as to what you cannot do. Don’t think you cannot, think you can.”