Why Was I Born?

Have you ever heard that question or perhaps asked it yourself? Personally, I can't remember if I have asked that question directly or not.

A week ago I was flying at about 37,000 ft with a healthy tail wind that propelled our 747-400 up to 700 mph ground speed. It just happened to be my 63rd birthday. Sitting in row 66 on a 12 hour flight gives one plenty of time to sleep, think or pray. During the flight I glanced at my PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) for younger folks who now carry fancy phones that fulfill the same and many more functions. There was a flashing reminder that on July 9th Carl and Danford Settles, Sharon's parents, would celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary. I began to muse at the coincidence of the near proximity of my birth and their marriage.

I will not say this was a Word from God, but an amusing thought came into mind. What if God saw my birth and then moved upon two young people to marry and from that union would come a beautiful young lady named Sharon who would eventually become my wife? When we married some years later three wonderful children would be born to our union and live and minister in Japan. There would then be added two very lovely daughters-in-law. Later five gorgeous grand daughters would follow with outstanding musical ability. Just wondering!

Then this morning Sharon received an email from Japan. It was a 30 year old Japanese young lady named Kikuko. She reminded Sharon that July 9th was her first anniversary of her new birth in Jesus Christ! During this past year she has personally led more than five others to faith in Christ including her 100 year old grandmother who died a couple months ago. Following the above line of reasoning it was interesting that Kikuko received Christ on the same day as Carl and Danford's wedding anniversary.

Read with me what Kind David had to say about his birth and God's involvement in his life even prior to his natural birth.

Ps 139:13-17
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it. 15 You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! 16 You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! 17 How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me! TLB

Sounds to me like God is very involved in a "hands on" manner in our lives. We really should not spend our time questioning why we were born. God clearly has a plan for our lives. The Bible version above states that each day of our lives was "scheduled" before we exited the birth canal and took our first breath. Let me take a few moments and share with you the rest of Psalms 139 to see how much involved God is in the lives of His children.

Ps 139:1-12, 23-24
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. 3 You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. 4 You know what I am going to say before I even say it. 5 You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! 7 I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. 9 If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. 11 If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. 12 For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. 24 Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. TLB

What do you think? I reckon we are not here by mistake or by accident. God has a plan. He has a definite purpose for each and every one of us. We may not follow His Will for our lives. We may not even know what His Will is for our lives. But He is there with us every moment of every day just waiting and working on our behalf. So how can we lose?

I think the question has been answered. God arranged the circumstances for you and me to be born on this earth into the families that we have been a part of. He put us in the nations of His Choice. He put the gifts and talents into us as it pleased Him to bring Glory to His Name. He put us with the people around us to bless them and to share His Love. It just seems to me that our potential is virtually limitless. Literally the sky is the limit. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! Amen!

May God bless you as you rejoice in the life He has given to you!

Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"