Has your life slipped into a rut? The definition of a rut has been given as, “A grave with the ends kicked out.”

Why am I alive, what is my goal, where am I headed? Have you ever wondered about the answers to these questions? The Bible has the answers.

The Bible talks about the apostle Paul. Paul was born into a position, both socially and politically, that was as privileged as anything that day had to offer. He was born a Roman citizen in a time when the Roman empire encompassed 80 percent of the known world; he was born into a family that could afford to have him taught by the best teachers of the day; he was born into a family that was among the influential group in the Jewish faith, which controlled the Jewish people under the authority of the Roman supervisor of the area. When he was a “young man” he was influential in his own right in the affairs of this powerful body. He was learned, relatively rich, and yet there was no motivating force in his life beyond the desire to persecute Christians which he was very good at.

The on the road to Damascus, Paul met Christ. The effect of this meeting was so great that Paul amazed all of the people that knew him. His persecution of the Christians ceased and he began to preach the way of Christ.

Now he wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21. He felt even dying would profit him for he would go to be with Christ. Now in Christ he lived and moved and had his being.

Paul stated that, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14. His God given goal was to be “a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God” Romans 1:1. You and I may be called to do various things from missionary work to the job at which we are now working, but we must know Christ in order for Him to give us this higher purpose.

Christ can do for each of us that which He did for Paul, give us a meaning, an objective, and a joy in life. However, the thing that separates us from Christ is sin. This applies to all people in the world. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.

But God, because of his love for us, has made provision for our salvation. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Christ has made payment for our sins and all we have to do is take the gift by acknowledging that we have sinned and asking for forgiveness.

As with Paul, a choice to follow Jesus can be just the change in our life’s focus that we need to provide purpose and motivation.

Where are you prepared to go to get out of the rut?