In the next few days I will release my new book, “A Quest for the Ultimate: A Spiritual Adventure of Seven Seekers.” It is about the ultimate purpose of the Christian life. I have asked several believers if they knew what the ultimate purpose of their Christian life was, and I received several different answers. None of them seemed to fit with what Scripture teaches, so I think this will be a helpful book. God wants to encourage you with an exciting ultimate purpose, so I hope you will read the book.
Below is an excerpt from Chapter Five, which I hope will whet your appetite. The retreat leader is helping the seven participants to make their way to their ultimate purpose.
“Now I want us to dive into the answer to the core question that’s been lurking beneath all our discussions.” He leans forward slightly. “What is our ultimate purpose? Or, to put it another way: why do we do everything we do? Why do we do Christformation?
“We talked about being motivated to Christformation by love for God, and I said that was not the whole story of our ultimate purpose. There is something even better.
“But what could be greater than loving God?” Melissa interjects. “It’s the greatest commandment.”
“So, that is the question. What ultimate purpose could be greater than loving God? What is supreme?”
The question silences them as it did on their first evening. In the background of their anticipation, the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the distant laughter of children perform a quiet symphony.
“When I was younger,” Jacob says, “I thought the answer was simple. We exist to glorify God. Period. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to see that while this is true, there’s something even deeper within that truth.”
“So, here is a clue to our ultimate purpose and why I’ve spent so much time on Christformation. In 2 Corinthians 11:2 Paul tells the Corinthians: ‘I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.’ The Greek word for promise means a contract for marriage, betrothal.”
“We’re engaged? To Christ?” Sarah wonders aloud. “I know we are the bride of Christ, but I don’t really think of myself as engaged. Really, I don’t think about being Jesus’ bride at all.”
“I definitely don’t think about that,” Kwan adds. “Maybe it’s weirder to think about if you’re a guy.”
“Probably,” Jacob responds. Most of us don’t think of ourselves as brides, but apparently, God wants us to. It is a major theme in the bible. In the Old Testament when the Jews strayed from Yahweh he referred to them as harlots or unfaithful wives. He takes the analogy pretty seriously.
I will let you know when the book is available on Amazon.
