2020 will be remembered as the year the coronavirus pandemic hit the world. This post is about a different invisible pandemic that is more deadly than Covid-19 and has been around since time began. . .
. . . it is the pandemic of AIMLESSNESS
. . . and it is still infecting many, many people.
A friend, Wolfgang Simson, recently posted some statistics about the spread of this infection. While it is evident throughout the world’s population, my particular focus is on the spread of infection among Christians.
Only 10% know their life purpose
Study population: While some figures suggest a third of the world’s population are Christian, my friend used a more conservative figure of only 10% of all people are truly ‘born again’ (this would equate to approx. 720 million people).
Based on his own life-long research among ‘born again’ Christians, only 10% (say 72 million) know their God-given calling.
Their mission in life.
Their life purpose.
90% infected
What this means is that some 90% of Christians are ‘infected’ with the devilish disease of aimlessness.
99.5% don’t finish well
If we take it a step further and consider how many of those who know their calling and life purpose actually carry it out and finish it, the figure drops by half to only 5% (that would be 3.6 million or only 0.5% of all Christians!).
Conclusion: 99.5% of Christians don’t complete their life purpose and God-given assignment!
And with the 10% that are not infected, about half of them suffer some effects that prevent them from finishing their lives well. This includes discouragement, disappointment, moral failure, pride, and spiritual burnout.
Symptoms
Some of the common symptoms associated with this disease are feelings of inadequacy, lethargy, and confusion.
This explains why 90% of believers feel disempowered. 1 It weakens people and as a result they are less fruitful and don’t rise to their potential.
Strategic action plan & interventions
These findings highlight a serious problem that is significantly hindering the health of the Body of Christ and the advance of God’s kingdom.
So what can be done about it?
How can this situation be turned around to disinfect and kill this disease and increase the number who can resist this threat?
Those who are most prone to this disease are those with a weakened immune system. What is causing this weakness and how can people’s immunity be built up? How can we vaccinate against this destructive contagion?
Vaccinate with biblical truth
One line of treatment is to vaccinate with sound teaching grounded in truth and a biblical worldview. The aim would be to eliminate old disempowering mindsets that separate life into two categories (spiritual & secular) and cause people to feel like second-class citizens in the kingdom of God.
In time, rolling out such a programme of biblical truth would not only address the symptoms highlighted above, but also address the underlying issues caused by the disease. Key components would be the following:
1 KNOW that God has a purpose for your life!
If you are in the infected group, the first jab you need to take is to recognise that God has called and appointed you to carry out a kingdom assignment for Him!
He told Jeremiah that before he was conceived, there was a divine plan for his life (Jer. 1:5). Jesus told Saul (Paul) at his conversion to go to Damascus in order to find out what he was “appointed to do” (Acts 22:10).
You may be thinking that these people had a God-given assignment because they were special.
The truth is all Christians, not just religious workers, have a calling. All work, not just what some consider to be ‘spiritual’ work, can be considered a calling.
There are two kinds of calling: general and specific. There is a general call to Jesus Christ and to enter the kingdom, making him Lord and receiving God’s gift of salvation and new life. Secondly, having become a kingdom citizen, there is a particular calling which is our unique life assignment and purpose to manifest and advance God’s kingdom in the Earth.
Paul’s letters to the first Christians highlight that there are “good works” prepared and appointed for every believer (Eph. 2:10). And as I will get to below, we are all to pursue our callings, press towards finishing well and receive the reward for doing so.
2 SEEK after this purpose!
When Saul (Paul) made Jesus Lord he asked him, ‘What do you want me to do?’ He asked a crucial question! He sought to discover the mission and life assignment his new King had for him.
We won’t find out our unique calling if we don’t ask God to reveal it to us. Jesus said if we don’t seek, we won’t find.
A valuable way to help in this searching process is to discover how God has made you. Understanding our design will help us discover our destiny. A very practical way to do this and unlock your Life P.U.R.P.O.S.E. is to go through the 7 key areas that I outline in my book and coaching programme. 2
We also have to be willing to be told what to do . . . not by me or some other coach, but by God himself! Some people may take issue with that. They’re used to calling the shots. Doing what they want to do. Having freedom. Deciding their own purpose in life.
Having Jesus as Saviour, Deliverer or Healer is great, but not so much as Lord or King (except as a figure-head who doesn’t actually have any authority over my life).
In the context of submitting our personal rights for the sake of the gospel, the apostle Paul exhorted believers to fulfil their potential in God. To discipline oneself, to do whatever is necessary in order to finish well in life and ministry.
3 PURSUE your purpose and mission in life!
Paul exhorted some other ‘ordinary’ believers to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). He was writing about laying hold of the reason Jesus has laid hold of your life (verse 12).
4 KEEP your eye on the prize
Fulfilling your life assignment and purpose will not be a walk in the park. At times it may be the hardest thing you will ever do. It will require faithfulness, courage, and perseverance.
The Bible exhorts us to keep pressing on and like Jesus, keep our eyes on the joy ahead of receiving our reward. Like in most sporting competitions, the winner (or winning team) doesn’t receive their prize on the racetrack. They often have to go up some stairs to an important person (like a king or queen) to be crowned champions and collect their trophy and/or medal.
As Christians, we have such an incentive although we will receive an imperishable crown and reward from the Most High King, Jesus himself!
ACT NOW: Choose to live a life of purpose!
This vaccination programme is not mandatory. God never forces anyone to do anything. But you have an invitation to participate.
If you’re infected with the pandemic of aimlessness, whether severely or partly, I strongly advise you to get the help you need to get your life back. The life and purpose that Jesus fulfilled his divine assignment and calling . . . to give you!
1 See my book, Empowered! Discovering Your Place in God’s Story
2 7 Keys to Unlocking Your Life P.U.R.P.O.S.E. – Discovering Your Destiny by Understanding Your Design by Stuart M. Simpson
(Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash)