“At dawn of day, when you dislike being called, have this thought ready: ‘I am called to man’s labour; why then do I make a difficulty if I am going out to do what I was born to do and what I was brought into the world for?'” (Marcus Aurelius, “The Meditations,”5.1; both in Farquharson’s translation)

Have you ever thought deeply of what you were called to do all your life? Have you given it any thought at all? Most of us, if we are honest, have not given it much deep consideration. To be sure, the extent of our query goes into the realm of career, education, marriage, and maybe wealth and health, even though these are not necessarily wrong as our journey into what do we do for the rest of our lives. However, how do we know if we are doing exactly what I “was brought into the world for?”  Many will find hard-pressed to calculate with certainty the answer. Marcus Aurelius, Stoic philosopher and emperor of Rome 161-180 A.D., had one thing right: “at dawn of day, when you dislike being called.”  Basically, many in this world hate waking up in the morning and going to work. Why: because, they don’t see enough eternal significance and dividends.

Let me suggest a few things: Why were humans made? In the garden Adam and Eve were made to enjoy the garden while having sweet fellowship and communion with God. In other words,1).you were made to worship God. The story goes that they sinned and the sweet unadulterated worship and communion was broken. God then had to restore the relationship. Every human being that doesn’t see each waking day as an opportunity to worship the Creator is going to be forever missing the link to a fulfilled life. Nevertheless, a restored relationship with God must be the order of the day if you’re going to do what you were “brought into the world for.” 2).Your life begins to have meaning. You now find it necessary to be fishers of men. You now see your life as something with eternal impact. You now start “walking worthy of the vocation wherewith you were called.” This means, you start entertaining spiritual things, 3) You now see your life with adifferent perspective. Your job, education, career, and so forth, take new shape. Now your encounters, relationships, work, etc. take on a different shade of color. Therefore, my friend, seek God “at dawn of day” and “do what you were born to do.” That is, invite God into your life by repenting of your sins and turning to God as your only solution for your true calling. Then, and only then, will you find true fulfillment and satisfaction.

Pastor Jim Cater