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"And God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it;... and God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good...." Genesis 1:28-31
Have you ever seen the movie Chariots of Fire ? It happens to be one of my all-time favorites. In particular, it's the story of Eric Liddell and the unwavering adherence to his convictions that has always moved me.
Eric Liddell was born to missionary parents serving in China, a place he would also eventually serve in the same capacity, but during the years he studied abroad, he became famous as the fastest runner in Scotland. His speed landed him a spot in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, where he won a gold medal in the 400 meter race.
His entire life story is amazing and inspirational, but getting back to the movie, there was one scene that stood out to me, and I remember it still. Eric was talking with his sister Jenny. She had just scolded him for letting this "running business" fill his head when he should be thinking about getting back to China and missionary service. His words to her are the subject of today's post.
"I know God made me for a purpose," Liddell said, "and that purpose is China, but I also know He made me fast... and when I run, I feel His pleasure."
Purpose... and pleasure. A two-fold aspect of the Christian life.
I believe that God has a purpose and a plan for each and every one of us, and as our Creator, He has endowed us with certain gifts and abilities to accomplish that purpose. No two of us are the same. We are uniquely crafted by our Maker to be who we are, where we are in this place and time, to bring His good and perfect will to fruition.
Perhaps I am simple-minded, but I have never wondered or worried over the weighty question of the purpose of life in general. It has always seemed a simple answer to me... to give God glory in all we do. Whether in a big thing, a small thing, or somewhere in-between matters less than if we are simply being faithful to His mandate. God doesn't have a sliding scale, ranking importance. That is perhaps a fallacy of human distinction. If He has tasked us with a thing, that thing, whatever it is, IS important to Him.
From the very beginning God gave mankind a purpose. When we honor that purpose, His purpose for our life, it gives us fulfillment and joy. It also brings joy to the One who made us.
There is another thing God gave us in the beginning. He gave us an incredible world to enjoy, pieced together meticulously in intricate detail. He made sure it was just right, perfect to His order, before placing us in the midst of it. Then He designed us with senses to take it all in, and He did this for us... for our pleasure. He put together a universe where both the majestic and the minute share inexplicable fascinations. And in this too, there is no sliding scale. All, ALL of creation holds the power to mesmerize, to take our breath away at the wonderment.
Like a parent, when that "perfect gift" has been given rejoices in the squeals of his delighted child, God delights in our pleasure at His good and perfect gifts. Our joy gives joy to the Giver.
The Christian life is not unlike the observation made by Eric Liddell. It has a two-fold aspect. God has given us both purpose and pleasure. To focus on only one while neglecting the other would somehow leave us feeling incomplete.
There is pleasure to be found in purpose... and there is purpose to be found in pleasure.
When both are realized, I think there is joy on earth as well as in heaven, and happy, truly happy and fulfilled is the man who drinks deeply from both pools.
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