Having Purpose in Your Life

         I have never been an immigrant, legal or illegal.  I have always been a citizen of the United States of America.  I have been to foreign countries.  Most of my visits were due to being aboard a navy ship and my only papers were my military ID card.  When we traveled to Spain, we had passports that we carried with us at all times.  We hear a lot about immigrants these days when we listen to the news and while the world screams at us as to how bad we are, people still desire to come to this country.  When I see the tyranny and sufferings around the world, I am thankful that I am an American, born in Michigan City, Indiana.  Israel was a proud country at one point but they had disobeyed God and the prophets were warning them but they didn't pay any attention to the "Word of the LORD."  The final result was a takeover by the Babylonians and soon after, all of the prime people were massed together and forced to go to live in Babylon.  During this time, a couple of young people decided on some guidelines that they were going to incorporate in their lives.  Daniel 1:8 says, " But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."  
       There were some foods that Daniel and his friends were not going to eat.  They were faithful in that which they had "purposed" in their hearts.  God honored their commitment and Daniel soon rose to the top and one who came well known to the royal court in Babylon.  The point is that there are some things in this world, in this life, that are worth making a commitment about such as the Word of God.  When many people come to a section of Scripture where they don't agree on its request, just say that they don't understand it fully and thereby refuse to let it apply to their lives.  One of the favorite expressions of many is, "Well, that's your opinion."  That is to say, that they feel there are many options in regard to the Scripture and that we have chosen only one of them.  The truth of the matter in Biblical interpretation is that there is but one interpretation.  When all parties come together in the Word of God and all are fully studied up on the passage, they will all agree on the interpretation.  Most of the variants on interpretation are due to ones own lack of study along with a preconceived notion as to how a passage should be interpreted.  Thus, when a problem comes up between believers, the one answer that surfaces the most is, "That's just your opinion."    I will admit right at the beginning that there is a lot I don't understand this side of heaven but I have purposed in my heart to stand firm on the Word of God and believe on what it says instead of believing in the theories of mankind.  So, may we all purpose in our hearts not defile ourselves with the teachings of the world, but to stand firm on the Scriptures.  In the end, the Word of God always prevails.  Praise God for His sending to us the Scriptures that are our guide to heaven and the things of this life.