Humanity was not created for religion. Humanity was created for purpose. From the first breath that God breathed into Adam’s nostrils, it was not ritual that was born, it was destiny. When we look closely at the Scriptures and the eternal counsel of God, we discover a profound truth: God never designed man to be caged in religious systems. He designed man to be free in destiny, aligned with purpose, and united with His will. Religion came later as a construct of man, but divine purpose preceded and supersedes religion.
This article unpacks this revelation, showing how God’s intent for humanity has always been purpose and destiny, and how religion often works against that intent. It draws from Scripture, reason, and insight, weaving together truth that liberates the soul.
THE CREATION STORY: PURPOSE BEFORE RELIGION
Genesis 1:26–28 unveils the grand intention of God for man:
‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion’.
Notice, God did not say, ‘Let us make man so that he may practice a religion’. Instead, He spoke of dominion, fruitfulness, multiplication, replenishing the earth, and subduing it. This is purpose. It is destiny. The very first blessing pronounced upon humanity was not about rituals, laws, or ceremonies—it was about living in divine alignment with a meaningful destiny.
Man was created as an extension of God’s will on earth, a living vessel to carry heaven’s agenda into earthly expression. Religion, at its best, was only supposed to be a means of remembering God. But in reality, religion became a system that chained people to forms, while stripping them of substance.
PURPOSE IS THE ORIGINAL BLUEPRINT
Every product reveals the intention of its maker. A chair is made for sitting, not for swimming. A pen is designed to write, not to hammer nails. In the same way, humanity was crafted for destiny, not rituals. God is a God of intention, and His Word testifies:
Jeremiah 1:5:
‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations’.
Here lies the eternal principle: God does not create randomly. Every man and woman is fashioned with a unique divine purpose. Long before religion was conceived, God already knew and designed your destiny.
THE DISTORTION OF RELIGION
So, where did religion come from? Religion is man’s attempt to reach God without alignment to His purpose. It is the tower of Babel repeated in different shades. Genesis 11 shows humanity building a tower to reach the heavens by human effort. But God had already destined them for dominion, not empty ritual. Religion is simply another Babel—humanity’s way of replacing relationship and purpose with ritual and control.
Religion programs the mind to focus on external compliance instead of internal transformation. It tells man what to do to be accepted, while God had already given man an identity and a destiny in Him. This is why Jesus clashed with the Pharisees. They were experts in religion, yet strangers to God’s purpose.
Mark 7:13 describes how traditions (religion) nullify the Word of God:
‘Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition’.
Religion makes the Word powerless, because it distracts men from purpose.
JESUS AND PURPOSE OVER RELIGION
Jesus Christ came to realign humanity back to destiny. His life was not about establishing another religion; it was about reconciling humanity back to the original purpose of the Father.
John 4:34 records Jesus’ profound declaration:
‘My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work’.
Here, Jesus defines the essence of life—not ritual, not religion, but purpose. His very sustenance (meat) was tied to alignment with God’s will. For Him, fulfilling destiny was food for the soul.
He never said, ‘My meat is to attend rituals’. He never said, ‘My meat is to establish religious traditions’. No. His sustenance was to do and finish the Father’s will. This reveals that true life, true fulfillment, is only found in destiny, not religion.
RELIGION VERSUS DESTINY: THE GREAT DIVIDE
Religion binds, destiny frees.Religion cages people in rules and appearances. Destiny liberates people to live meaningfully in God’s will.
Religion is about man reaching God; destiny is about God reaching man.Purpose is Heaven’s agenda seeking earthly expression.
Religion creates division; destiny creates fulfillment.Religion splits humanity into sects. Destiny unites all under the banner of God’s will.
Religion distracts; destiny aligns.Religion makes people busy without progress. Purpose ensures every step is ordered.
Religion fears death; destiny conquers death.Those who live in purpose understand that death cannot erase destiny, it only transitions it.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF DESTINY OVER RELIGION
Abraham was not called to start a religion but to father nations according to God’s purpose (Genesis 12:1–3). His life was destiny unfolding.
Joseph was not sustained by rituals in Egypt, but by purpose. His destiny to preserve nations was greater than any religious form.
Esther fulfilled destiny when Mordecai told her, ‘Who knows if you were brought into the kingdom for such a time as this’? (Esther 4:14). This was about purpose, not religion.
Paul had religion in abundance as a Pharisee, but it blinded him to God’s purpose. Only when Christ encountered him did he step into destiny as the apostle to the Gentiles.
RELIGION: THE SUBTLE ENEMY OF PURPOSE
The greatest tragedy of religion is that it makes people satisfied without fulfilling destiny. It programs them to measure their lives by ceremonies, yet their purpose remains untouched.
People attend services weekly, observe fasts, recite prayers, yet never ask: Am I fulfilling the reason I was born? Religion keeps them busy, but purpose asks them to be fruitful. Religion offers comfort, but purpose demands sacrifice.
Jesus warned the Pharisees:
‘Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith’. (Matthew 23:23).
Religion majors on minors. Purpose majors on what matters eternally.
THE CALL BACK TO PURPOSE
Humanity’s greatest need today is not more religion but rediscovery of purpose. Proverbs 19:21 declares:
‘There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand’.
The devices of religion are many—laws, traditions, rituals, sects—but only the counsel (purpose) of the Lord will stand.
Ephesians 2:10 reminds us:
‘For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them’.
We are not created for religion. We are created for good works, preordained by God.
THE DANGERS OF RELIGION WITHOUT PURPOSE
Wasted Lives: People die religious but unfulfilled. They never manifest their destiny.
Manipulation: Religion gives power to men to control others. Purpose gives power to God to govern lives.
Stagnation: Religion can keep whole nations bound in rituals while neglecting progress and justice.
Spiritual Blindness: Religion blinds the heart to the living voice of God. Purpose keeps the heart open to divine direction.
EMBRACING DESTINY: THE JESUS MODEL
Jesus is our ultimate model. He lived for purpose, not for religion. He healed on the Sabbath because destiny is superior to ritual. He forgave sinners because purpose is greater than condemnation. He gave His life on the Cross, because destiny is stronger than death.
John 17:4 records His victorious testimony:
‘I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do’.
This is destiny fulfilled. Not rituals observed. Not religion perfected. But purpose completed.
A FINAL CALL TO PURPOSE
The true test of life is not how religious you were, but whether you fulfilled the purpose for which you were born. Heaven’s question will not be, What denomination did you belong to? It will be, Did you finish the work I gave you?
Like Jesus, may our testimony at the end of life be:
‘My meat was to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work’.
This is life’s greatest pursuit—purpose, not religion; destiny, not rituals.
CONCLUSION
Religion is man’s invention. Purpose is God’s intention. Religion keeps man in bondage. Destiny sets man free. Religion is temporary. Purpose is eternal.
From creation to redemption, God’s design for humanity has always been purpose and destiny. Let us break free from the chains of religion and embrace the divine calling that predates rituals. Let us live as Jesus lived—sustained by the will of the Father, committed to finishing His work.
This is the secret to fulfillment. This is the essence of life. This is the reason you were born.
Sam Adeoye
