Living on Purpose

Living on Purpose

Buster Beatty

My name is Buster Beatty. My home is here on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in the White Mountains of Arizona. I want to share my story with you. I believe that every human being is born for a reason and that there is a purpose for each of our lives that is planned by our Creator. 

I know that God had a plan for my life. But in my early years, I was an alcoholic with no place to live. I drifted from house to house—living for the next drink. That was where God found me on the night of August 19, 1971. Something truly marvelous happened. I came to know Christ as my Savior. He saved me from my sin and for His purpose!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:28

God gave me a new heart! I went from being dead in sin to serving the living God (Ephesians 2:1-10). In Christ, I discovered the purpose for which I was created.

God put on my heart a call to ministry. I went to Bible school and graduated three years later. I became a youth worker here on my reservation. Later I was called to be an associate pastor in my local church for seven years (Ephesians 4:11-12). God also burdened my heart to reach the lost with the Gospel (I Corinthians 1:18-31). I have ministered as a full-time evangelist for many years—preaching the Word of God from coast-to-coast. I saw first-hand how desperately we need God to do a mighty work in our families, our communities, and our nation. I also saw the miraculous power of the Gospel transform the lives of ordinary people like you and me!

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth….The just shall live by faith. –Romans 1:16-17

After many years traveling, God directed me to focus on the great need in my own community. There had been 241 suicide attempts on our reservation—with a suicide rate ten times higher than any other Indian reservation across the United States. I began to ask God to intercede among my people. I pleaded with Him to open a door for me to make a difference, and God answered my prayer!

The tribe asked me to serve on a suicide prevention team called “Apache Helping Apache.” As I comforted hurting people in times of crisis, I realized that a spiritual battle is taking place that can’t be ignored (Ephesians 6:10-18). At least 75% of the suicidal people I worked with were influenced by demonic spirits. They felt that they had no purpose and had no reason to live. That’s why they considered ending their lives. I knew that Christ is the answer!

Thankfully, many lives were saved! But the need in our communities continues to be great. Let me encourage you: if you are contemplating suicide, there is hope! God’s Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to counsel and comfort you (John 15:26; 16:7-14; II Timothy 3:16-17). 

When we depart from the safety of God’s loving boundaries, we become trapped in cycles of spiritual defeat and hopelessness. When we abandon biblical principles and follow our own path, we discover only heartache. Many today believe that the world owes them something. That is where cycles of crime begin. Only our Creator can break those cycles of defeat and give us a purpose to live for that is more fulfilling than anything this world has to offer!

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you… –Isaiah 55:2-3

We need men and women of integrity who love and fear God to step up to the calling of leadership. Each one of us has an opportunity to serve in some capacity. I was approached by law enforcement leadership to become a police chaplain. I was sworn in as the first certified police chaplain of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. I loved this responsibility because I love to help people. 

Corrections and police officers are doing work that is close to the heart of God. They are “ministers of God” to affirm and enforce what is good (Romans 13). They are tasked to restrain evildoers and protect the defenseless. 

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. –Psalm 82:3-4

Law enforcement is a high calling! We honor those who serve and protect us. Many in law enforcement and the military put their lives on the line every day. Many have paid the ultimate price for our freedom (John 15:13). 

There is another kind of freedom that I want you to know about—it is to experience a life of freedom through a relationship with Jesus Christ. This freedom has been paid for you by Jesus Christ. God sent His Son Jesus to earth to free us from the penalty of our sin. He took our place on death row, and His resurrection demonstrates His power to conquer death. 

Have you experienced true freedom? Have you turned your life over to God? If you are still breathing, then you have the opportunity to repent and turn to Jesus in faith. One day, there will be a judgement. You will stand before Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:11-15). When you answer for your choices in this life, you will either be rejoicing or regretting. I urge you to submit your heart to God in prayer right now!

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. –Romans 10:9-10

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. –Romans 10:12-13

I truly believe that God has a purpose for your life. Perhaps you do not even see that right now, but I encourage you to seek Him. When you submit your life to the risen Savior, He will change what you love (Colossians 3:1-3). He will change the way you live (Romans 6:1-4). God will reveal His plan for your life (Proverbs 3:5-8). I am living proof that Christ can change a person’s life (II Corinthians 5:17). What Jesus did for me, He can do for you! He delivered me from a life without purpose to serve the living God. 

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? –Hebrews 9:14

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. –Hebrews 11:6

I continue to minister today with inmates as well as politicians. They are turning themselves over to Christ, and I am seeing people’s lives change on this reservation. Instead of using their liberty for the wrong things, they are turning back to biblical principles and breaking cycles of crime and despair. This is my purpose in life (Romans 10:14-15). This is my testimony of God’s goodness that I want to share with you. By God’s grace, I will continue to preach the Gospel! 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. –II Timothy 1:7

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. –II Timothy 1:9