What is the purpose of life? Why do we exist? Is it essentially a matter of self determination? Is it up to each human being to carve out their existence and destiny? Or, is there a purpose that has been assigned to us? Is this our story to write as we choose or are we really actors in a story written by someone else?
I remember as I grew up spending one month out of my summers attending vacation Bible school. That’s right, one month, all morning, five days a week. Before you start thinking that sounds like fun, let me say that this was not about fun. This was about education. Intense education. There was a lot of studying and memorizing.
One of the main things I remember is memorizing the Westminister Catechism. One of the best known questions in the catechism is, "What is man’s chief end?" The language is a bit antiquated but the question is fundamental to everyone of every age. We might put it this way, "What is man’s highest purpose." Or, "What is man’s primary goal in life?"
If you asked the average person, you would likely get quite a range of answers to this question. Some even philosophical and spiritual in their tone. But, if you looked at the way the average person lives, even many who call themselves Christians, you would get an even more realistic answer to what they believe life is all about.
What are some of the goals we set our hearts on? Certainly at the top of the list would have to be a desire to be happy and fulfilled in life. Many people set their hearts on bing successful in a career. Some live to make a name for themselves, to advance their status in the community. Others just want to enjoy life to the fullest and have all the best life has to offer.
Those who are more noble in their thinking might even live to stop world hunger, cure disease, or promote peace, love and tranquility. Some believers have set their sights on living to win the lost for Christ as their life goal.
These goals for life have varying degrees of merit, but all fall short of the purpose for all creation. All fall short of God’s intention for us in giving us breath and life.
What is man’s chief end? What is man’s highest purpose? What is man’s primary goal in life? The Westminister Catechism answer is, "Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."
What exactly does this mean? To put it more simply, it means that man exists for the purpose of honoring God and finding our joy in Him. This is what we were created for. In fact, this is the purpose of all creation because God’s highest purpose, God’s primary goal is to display His glory. God’s purpose for all existence is the demonstration and declaration of His glory from eternity past to eternity future. God’s purpose for us is that we come to recognize His glory, demonstrate His glory, and worship His glory.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14)
From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)
Soli Deo Gloria
Next: God's "Chief End"
No comments:
Post a Comment