John 8:14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going….”
Do you know where you’re going? The answer to that question determines every aspect of your journey here on earth. And beyond.
We recently returned from a trip with about four different destination points. With each new location, we set our GPS and carefully followed every Turn right in 500 feet or Continue to follow I-75. Until we finally heard the words we’d been waiting for: You have reached your destination. That GPS guided us through every merge, exit and occasional route recalculation along the way. Without a clear destination point, we would have been utterly lost.
Author Carl Trueman, in The Desecration of Man, describes how the destination point in our culture has undergone a dramatic shift in the last few years. We have moved from viewing God as our destination point, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever” (Westminster Shorter Catechism). Instead, we have rejected God in favor of looking inward, toward our feelings to lead us to purpose and meaning.
But as Trueman points out, our feelings and the drive toward personal happiness and self-expression simply aren’t big enough to lead us to the meaning we crave. It ultimately guides us toward a shallow identity, far from the dignity found in living as image-bearers of our Creator.
Jesus knew his destination. He knew where he came from and where he was going. The need to express himself, or optimize every situation for his own benefit didn’t drive him. Every healing, every miracle, every teaching, served as a reflection of his purpose. The purpose to be exactly who God created him to be. “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30).
So how about you? Make no mistake. Whatever destination point you choose will determine how you live. If you aim for God, you will choose actions that please him, like love, forgiveness, justice, grace. In surrendering your will for his, you will discover not only your true identity, but the very purpose you were placed on the planet. And when you meet him face-to-face you will know without a doubt:
You have reached your true destination.