Journeying from Creation to Resurrection: Embracing God's Purpose

If God did not leave your existence up to chance, then nothing in your life is a mere accident. Every part of your story has a meaning. This matters because if you believe life is random, you live in fear—what if tomorrow is meaningless? But when you see God as the creator, he that breathed out the stars, he that knit you together in your mother's womb, then you get to live with expectancy. What masterpiece is he writing with your life? [00:09:12] (51 seconds)

Rather than viewing trials as random or vindictive punishments—because some Christians believe that as well, that I'm being punished for something—no, you're not. I don't believe God pours out illness and things like that on his people. I do believe, however, that God will use that illness, like James says, to bring about perseverance, to stretch your faith, to draw you closer to him, to make it so that you can hear the whisper because that's all you can hear. [00:18:52] (50 seconds)

On the cross we see that no sin goes unnoticed before a holy God. Romans 3:23-24: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. Yet because God is love, he was willing to sacrifice his only son so that you could be forgiven, so that I could be forgiven. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. [00:23:51] (48 seconds)

When we stand at the foot of the cross, we are faced with a choice: to cling to our own efforts, hoping we are good enough, or to lay down our sin and our pride and accept Jesus' sacrifice that will secure us. Holiness and love in tension. If you think God is merely nice, you miss his justice. Let me promise you now, God does not turn a blind eye to sin. He deals with it. You get the choice. I get the choice to be on the grace and the mercy side of that dealing by choosing Jesus. [00:27:01] (53 seconds)

When you see what Christ has paid for your debt, you no longer have to chase self-worth in achievements, relationships, or worldly approval. You are forgiven, free, and called to live in the radical love that compelled Christ to the cross. [00:28:39] (25 seconds)

If the cross is where sin's penalty was paid, the resurrection is where new life broke forth from. Romans 8:11 tells us, And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. [00:34:56] (26 seconds)

So many of us live as though life is a cosmic roll of the dice. We wonder, Does my job matter? Does my suffering have any meaning? Does my existence matter? In our culture, the loudest voices shout that everything is either a coincidence or a cruel joke. This series will demolish that lie. When God is creator, every story, yours included, carries divine purpose. You are not an accident. You are not a roll of the dice. You are a part of Jesus' story. He has chosen you to be a character in his book. He wrote you in. You have a part to play. [00:37:55] (65 seconds)

As we close now remember that this isn't just a study. It's a pilgrimage. And a pilgrimage begins with wonder at the creator's handiwork. It will walk through the ruins of the fall. Stand at the foot of the cross and step out into the narrow road of discipleship. Finally embracing the resurrection power that transforms us from the inside out. [00:46:04] (32 seconds)