What Did God Design You To Be?

There’s a birthday card I’ve sent to a few people that reads: "You’re a Designer Original!" on the cover. Inside is a paraphrase of Jeremiah 29:11 – "You’ve been created for a purpose! I know the plans I have for you. Trust in Me. Your Creator."

That truth gives me a warm, confident feeling. God loves us so much that He created each of us with a total plan in mind.

Each year when we watch the Academy Awards, announcers give the name of designers who created beautiful gowns worn by the female celebrities. We hear names like, Versace, Chanel, Donna Karin, Valentino, and many others. These beautiful garments don’t just appear out of nowhere. Each original dress must first be created in the mind of the designer. The fabric must be chosen, measured, cut, sewn, and pressed with a hot iron before it is a finished product. Once the dress is completed, it is worn with the idea that it will help make the wearer look more beautiful. It should bring glory to the person wearing it.

We are God’s creations. We are true originals designed by the Master Designer. We too must undergo a lot of work before we become a finished product. Like a designer garment, you and I must be cut, sewed and ironed (so to speak). Sound painful? Sometimes the work He must do in our lives hurts. And let me tell you, the cutting, sewing and ironing are not likely to be finished here on earth. When you’re totally finished, He’ll take you home. I can say along with an old song title – "God’s still working on me."

God created and designed each of us to be patterned after His beloved Son, Jesus. The photo at right depicts Jesus Christ calming the stormy sea. He performed this miracle and all the other miracles, to bring glory to His Father in heaven. I’m going to list three of the primary purposes for which God designed you and me, and which will transform us more into the design of Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at some verses in the Bible and see how Christ pleased God. That way we can find out what the pattern of our lives should be, and also what our purpose in life is suppose to be.

(1) What is the number one reason that God created us? To Glorify God.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God," I Cor. 10:31.
"Father, glorify thy name…." John 12:28.

This is not to say He created the world just so He would have people to bow down to Him – No, it’s far deeper than that. He created beings that could share with Him not only all He had created, but also all of Himself. When we live as He created us to live, then we will enjoy our life, we will enjoy God and we will naturally glorify and worship Him.

Adam and Eve were meant to walk and talk with God – to enjoy the perfect world He had created for them – and to bring pleasure to Him as He watched them grow – as a parent with a child.

"You art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created," Rev. 4:11.

Rick Warren, in the Purpose Driven Life," writes: "God did not need to create you, but He chose to create you for His own enjoyment." Is God enjoying you?

(2) What is the most important way we can glorify God? Obey Him.

There are other ways to glorify God, but according to scripture, this is the most important.

"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offering and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams," I Sam. 15:22.

What does that mean?

"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk you in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you," Jeremiah 7:23.

OBEDIENCE – ouch! That’s a hard one. Now, there are a lot of commands I don’t have a problem with. I don’t have the least desire to commit murder or robbery. I don’t have a problem becoming drunk with wine --- these are not areas of difficulty for me. I’m obedient there! But, like you, there are many areas where I DO have difficulty with obedience.

Again, we can see a clear example in the behavior of Eve and then Adam. They failed in the obedience department – and it’s been downhill ever since.

On the other side of the issue, we see a clear example of perfect obedience when Christ was obedient - even unto death on the cross (Phil 2:8)

"So also Christ glorified not himself…." Hebrews 5:5a.

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours be done," Luke 32:42:

That’s what the Father wants from all of His children.

(3) Once we’re Christians, what has God commanded us to do? Teach and win others.

"For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save them who are lost," Luke 19:10.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," Matt 28:19.

"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God…." John 2:2a.

Again, Christ is our example and gave the Great Commission as His parting message.

One of the ways we can become what God designed us to be is to study His word. Now, we hear this all the time. It’s something we know we should do, but sometimes it’s just tough to really get into the Bible. I found some great tips for making your Bible study more effective.

When you read a passage of Scripture, ask yourself these questions:
--What did I like, or not like about the passage?
--Was there something I did not understand?
--What did I learn about God?
--What did I learn about myself?
--What nugget of truth can I take with me today?

This method can help you get tons more out of studying your Bible. Let’s try it with a verse about what God wants us to be – Romans 12:1,2. Use the key to dissect these two verses:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present our bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

--What did I like? I like the fact that God is merciful – and that He loves us enough to want us to be transformed.

--What did I not like? I have a hard time being a living sacrifice – or a dying sacrifice for that matter. My selfish nature shies away from sacrifice.

--Was there something I did not understand? I think I understand it pretty well

--What did I learn about God? The verse tells me that God expects me to conform to Him and not the world – it is my duty, and that He has a perfect will for my life that will be good and acceptable for me.

--What did I learn about myself? I should seek to be transformed to what He wants me to be, by choosing to do the 3 things that He designed me to do.

--What nugget of truth can I take with me today? "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I believe that glorifying God, obeying Him, and teaching others about Him must all first come from our minds saying, "I WILL do this. I WILL follow God." We must make a conscious decision before our bodies will take action.

This week, try using the Question Method in Bible study. Use a notebook and write out your thoughts, you’ll be surprised at how much more you’ll get out of God’s word. "The Bible isn’t a dry book – if you know its author."

What did God design you to be? He designed you to be His beloved child – a loving child who honors his or her father and lives within the circle of His grace and His will.

Photo Credit: I took this photo in Denver, Colorado, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.