What Good Purpose Were You Created For?

“And God said”…there be light…day and night; atmosphere /firmament; dry ground and plants; sun, moon and stars; birds and sea creatures; land animals and humans; and the Sabbath rest, “and God saw that it was good.”  “Then God said, Let us make man in our image,” and then “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”

Think about this!  As God formed and fashioned all He did, He ended up repeating the same over and over, “And it was good!”  Then when He created man or women like you, He said, “And indeed it was VERY  good,” because this is how mankind was to be…“VERY good!”  He had good reason, good cause, and a good purpose, and that purpose goes all the way back to Exodus 9:16; “Indeed for this purpose I have raised you up.”

For a short amount of time, everything worked for good…and when sin entered, human’s fell…as the devil prowls around for those he can deceive!  Let me tell you of three who have taken Peter’s word seriously to “Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (I Pet. 3:15).

In 1996, Denny and Jeanie Estes, of Dexter, IA, became members of the motorsport ministry of CRA Ministries, Int’l.  From then forward they were faithful at CRASunday church service at the Goodguys event in Des Moines, as well as completing their CRA devotional monthly Scripture calendar, and attending CRA Conference.  Much earlier, when Denny was in the 8^th grade, he and his dad bought a Model A that Denny drove to school, which was followed by a ’46 Ford, and soon he became known for “his cool and fast cars” as well as “Mr. Shifter.” Yet with his love for cars, Jeanie was his first love.  In 2007, the Estes placed their first order for the CRA,“High Performance Hot Rods & Horsepower” gospel tracts, and soon becoming ‘evangelists,’ the tracts were perfect for anyone needing direction, encouragement, based on God’s Word.  On Apr. 13, 2022, Denny finished his race, and being ushered into his eternal home with Jesus he left Jeanie to complete their mission.  At Denny’s service, hundreds of attenders received a tract neatly placed inside each memorial card.  Jeanie told me that in the last 3-years with Denny on dialysis, he would ride shotgun, and arriving at any store or gas station, as Jeanie prepared to run the errand, he would hand her one or several tracts, reminding her to be ready to be an evangelist to any person she would encounter.  “What good purpose were you created for?”

On October 17, 2000, Webbie and Joylyn Russell of Odessa, TX, also became members of CRA Int’l.  Webbie was known as a man who loved making motors run fast!  In younger days, he started off with a Cushman motor-scooter, then into go-carts, dirt bikes, race cars, boats, model airplanes, as well as later flying his own plane.  However, his ’32 Roadster Hi-Boy, and being a member of CRA was his main focus, and being in church service at the Texas Motorplex.  On January 23, 2011, God’s faithful servant was ushered into heaven; carried along in the arms of his personal angel to then be placed safely in the arms of the Jesus he loved and had served.  In 2014, Joylyn picked up the mantle to carry on being the evangelist she and Webbie had been, always having with her a handful of tracts.  I once asked Joylyn, what she did with all the tracts she ordered?  After all, Odessa, TX isn’t all that big!  She responded, “Dale!  I give one to every waiter, every individual cleaning the table, to those at the grocery store, Post Office, everywhere I go!”  Untold numbers have been given away by this Odessa, TX evangelist!  I think she might ask you and me, “What good purpose were you created for?”

And for this “Moment,” we have John Moore who owns E-Z Bore Motorsports in Chesapeake, VA. in business for over 30 years providing small engine specialty tools for the performance market.  Sharing Jesus as John does, he places a CRA tract in each order sent. Recently John shared about a customer’s concern of disconnect that had taken place between them and parents, and their son which was caused by the pandemic.  With their son wanting to get into Go Kart racing, the order arriving at the right moment and with the billing was a copy of the CRA “Hot Rods and Horsepower” tract.  John said, “so many times these tracts go out and you get the feeling of wondering if they really make a difference?  Then comes along an encouragement to reassure that it IS all worth it. “What good purpose were you created for?”

You were, and are!  And, how do we know?  Because “God is not a man that He should lie,” (Num. 23:19), and He said quite plainly in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plant I have for you…they are plans for good…to give you a future and a hope.”