God’s purpose for creating people was to glorify and worship Him. He desires that His name be worshipped, glorified, revered, sanctified and honored by all nations. He wants people to know Him and to love and worship Him. Throughout the Bible, the call to praise and worship God is foremost (Ps 97:1, Ps 67:3-4, Ps 96:3, Rev 15:3-4).
Yet, our selfish, sinful nature, time and again, tries to convince us that this world is all about us. We want to believe that God created this world solely for our enjoyment. Two examples, from the Bible, that indicate this this focus on self is how we view the Exodus and the birth of Jesus. Many of us may believe, I know I did until recently, that God saved Israel out of Egypt and numerous other tribulations because, for some reason, they pleased Him and He wanted to help them, that Jesus Christ came solely to save us from Hell and that Heaven is our reward for doing the best we can do at living our lives in obedience to God and His Word.
While there is truth in each of the above statements, these beliefs miss the underlying reason or purpose for creation, the Exodus, Jesus’ time on Earth and Heaven. They are not about us. They are all about God and His glory. All that has been created was made to glorify/point to God. “For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Rom 1:20).
The Exodus occurred so that the nations, especially Israel and Egypt, would see that God was much more powerful than any of the gods that Egypt (the greatest world power at that time) worshipped. The plagues showcased God’s power over Satan and his demons.
While Jesus certainly came to Earth to seek and save sinners, His main purpose was to glorify God, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.’ And what was the work? ‘I manifested Your name to the men You gave me out of the world” (John 17:4, 6). Jesus made known to the world who God was. He caused his followers to know and adore Him, God incarnate.
Lastly, Heaven will be a place of happiness, joy, peace, all the good that we can ever imagine. But our primary purpose in Heaven will be to worship God, as seen in the numerous visions of Heaven that God gives to people in the Bible. John tells us in Revelation 15:3-4, what is said about God around His throne, "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." The incredible thing about this worship, and worship of God on Earth, is that through worship of God, we find our greatest happiness. God will be worshipped and we will be filled with endless, incredible joy!
In light of all this truth from the Word, our purpose in life is not to find the most happiness, prosperity, success and peace we can find. It is to glorify the Lord. Our life’s purpose of glorification can be best summed up by what John Piper said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” May we live a life that points others to God!
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