“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”
James 4:17 (NLT)

If we only knew the answers to these four deep life questions that seem to endlessly stew in our souls…our lives would change dramatically:

• Who am I?
• Why am I here?
• Why am I the one to do this?
• What will be the impact of my life, my legacy?

Of these, the one that seems to linger unanswered most often is “Why am I here? Perhaps more commonly asked as “What is my purpose?” Our souls seem to know that if we just knew the answer, then life would make sense. James states that it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. It would be terrible to know your life’s purpose and then not do it. But what if you never figured out your life’s purpose? Then what?

I wonder, is it a sin to not know what you ought to do?  

God seems to be very intentional when he creates things. When he formed the Earth, he deliberately went about forming the various pieces a certain way, each part having specific role in the function of the planet. God spoke and each came into being, its purpose made clear.

“Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.”
Genesis 1:14 (NLT)

After creating Adam, the Bible says,

“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”
Genesis 2:15 (NLT)

God has given us broad purposes like this one, and to love your neighbor as yourself, and many others. Most believers understand these purposes and respond to fulfill them out of their unique giftings of course; all of the parts of the body fitting together beautifully. This is good!

But God does not stop assigning responsibilities here. He expects more. I love when the Lord confronts Jeremiah at the beginning of his ministry:

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

God specifically instructs Jeremiah, telling him it’s been his plan from the beginning for him to handle the additional responsibility of being his prophet. Is being assigned an additional assignment unique to Jeremiah? Not at all…. a better question might be, “Are there any Bible characters who do not have a specific additional responsibility?” All seem to have it. Likewise, each of us as well.

I call this additional responsibility your Life Mission; a specific assignment (an “added purpose”) from God you are to tackle while here on Earth.

It is a subset of your overall purpose. Like Jeremiah, you are specifically set apart, formed perfectly, to accomplish this additional responsibility. Your Life Mission supports God’s kingdom agenda.  Unlike your overall purpose which prevails after death (imagine Heaven full of people with no purpose—that would be hell!), there is no longer a need to do your Life Mission in Heaven because it is no longer necessary. You are in Heaven!

Think of Jesus who ended his earthly Life Mission by saying, “It is finished!” When you complete your Life Mission, you should express a similar statement.

Ask yourself, what was the Life Mission of John the Baptist?

“Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
Luke 3:4 (NLT)

John the Baptist’s Life Mission was to prepare the way for Jesus.

The Apostle Paul’s Life Mission? To preach the Good News to the Gentiles.

Moses? To lead the Israelites from slavery to the Promised Land.

As you read the Bible, ask yourself, “What was [fill in the blank]’s Life Mission?”

Why would you be any different… why wouldn’t God have a Life Mission for you too?

You may say to yourself, “these are special assignments reserved for select people who are called.” Be careful. The Bible is full of ordinary, broken people like you and me, who served a vital purpose in God’s kingdom agenda. Think of Rahab the prostitute, or one of the many that Jesus healed.

A blind man, having been healed by Jesus, testified to the Pharisees:

“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
John 9:25 (NLT)

I suspect, having suffered so long as a blind man, his Life Mission centered around testifying about Jesus thereafter. How many have been saved by his faithfulness? Even now, the song Amazing Grace extends his testimony.

Pursuing your Life Mission yield tremendous fruit!

No wonder James calls out that it is a sin to know what you ought to do and not do it. What if the blind man had said nothing of his healing?

If God creates everything with intention, having thought out what he made you for well before we are born, then each of us surely has a Life Mission. We just need to find it. Hence the deep longing in our souls leading us to search and search for the answer.

As a coach who specializes in helping others discover their Life Mission, I have a unique vantage point. Ironically, after getting their Life Mission clarified, most people are not as surprised as you might think to learn what it is. Don’t get me wrong. They are relieved and the clarity is super powerful as it eliminates any ambiguity. It’s just that the answer was very close to them all along…inside themselves!

After being guided on a search of your soul, you will discover that your Life Mission resides within yourself, not “out there.”

Look for where your soul aches and you will find your Life Mission there. Our souls cry out because our Life Mission is there, just hidden. All sorts of pains and fears have covered it over. The enemy has his hand in it; he works tirelessly to keep you from completing your Life Mission (a sin); the best way being to make you think that you don’t know what it is. Yet, it is right there within.

So, is it a sin to not know what you ought to do? If the answer lies within you, how would you answer this?

The way to find your Life Mission begins by humbling yourself and moving closer to God.

James lays this out:

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
James 4:7-10 (NLT)

All of those layers covering your Life Mission must be cast aside. Humbling yourself before God brings you close to him so your enemy must get out of the picture. He can’t be where God is for long. Humbly admitting your dependence on God changes everything. Come near him and he will bring your Life Mission to the surface. Not only that, he will help you accomplish it! What could be better?

The Mission Curve™ process, leads you closer to God where he will shine a light on your Life Mission and cause your enemy to flee. Embrace your Life Mission and launch yourself on the great Adventure God Made You For. Let’s talk.

Go to www.bobblackcoaching.com to schedule a free consultation.