"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."
Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 (NIV)
Dead people cannot resurrect themselves. A corpse lying in a grave has no power. It cannot choose life or plan its future. This is how Paul describes our spiritual condition before Christ. We were not sick or struggling. We were spiritually dead. God resurrected us from complete spiritual death.
Culture tells you to discover yourself and create meaning. It says your purpose comes from within. Self-exploration and inner power will unlock your potential. But this assumes you have the ability to design life. Scripture says something radically different. You were dead. Only God could make you alive.
This truth changes everything about how you find purpose. You cannot design your own purpose. A dead person doesn't choose to come alive. God initiates. God saves. God designs. Verse five says God made us alive with Christ. He acted first while we were still dead.
Picture a person drowning who has already lost consciousness underwater. They cannot swim to the surface or call for help. They cannot save themselves or even cooperate with a rescue. Someone must dive down and pull them out completely. This is spiritual death. You had no ability to reach God or help yourself. God dove down and pulled you from death to life.
Many believers still try to self-actualize instead of surrender. They chase personal development programs and work on self-improvement. They think purpose comes from discovering their inner potential. But purpose doesn't start with your effort or abilities. It starts with recognizing that God intentionally designed you. Your life is now bound to Christ's life. Romans 6:4 says we were raised to walk in newness.
Godseekers, God made you alive when you had no life. He didn't wait for you to improve yourself or get better. He rescued you from death and gave you new life intentionally. Now your purpose flows from His design, not your discovery or effort. Stop trying to resurrect yourself through self-improvement or personal achievement goals. Instead, thank God for making you alive and ask Him to show you what He designed you to do with this new life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come before You in awe of Your grace. You made me alive when I was dead in my sins. I could not save myself or create my own purpose. Thank You for initiating my salvation and designing my life with intention. Forgive me for the times I have relied on self-discovery instead of surrendering to Your design for me. Show me the purpose You have prepared for my life. Help me to live from Your power, not my own strength. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- How does understanding that you were spiritually dead (not just sick) change your view of salvation and God's role in your purpose?
- In what areas of your life are you still trying to "self-resurrect" instead of surrendering to God's intentional design for you?
Step of Faith
Today, I will surrender one area where I've been trying to create my own purpose and ask God to show me His intentional design instead.
