Do I have a purpose in this world? Does the world have a purpose, or is everything just meaningless matter in motion? These are serious questions that everyone ought to be able to give an answer to. Any man, woman, or child that is firmly rooted in the Scriptures should have a ready answer for these questions.
Q: Why did God make you and all things? A: For His own glory.
(Psalm 19:1; Jeremiah 9:23, 24; Revelation 4:11; 5:13)
Psalm 19 begins with the proclamation, “The heavens declare the glory of God”. How true this is! If you have ever been made to feel insignificant, while you sat staring up at the immensity of a sky filled with unnumbered stars, you have heard the heavens declare his glory. Even without a mouth the heavens cannot help but do what they were created for, preach about the glory of God!
On the other hand, we have to be reminded to tell out God’s glory. The Lord’s instructions to and through Jeremiah not to boast in wisdom, might, or riches are telling. You don’t have to be reminded to breathe, it’s just what you do. God’s commands to us are there precisely because we wouldn’t do them otherwise. We boast in the gifts (wisdom, power, or riches) rather than the giver. But all these things come from God, and ought to cause us to glorify him all the more. As the apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:17, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
We will not continue in this failure to faithfully glorify God forever. One day, all of redeemed humanity will cry out in praise matching that our Lord receives in heaven today. We will cry out his worth to receive glory because he created all things by his own will. We will cry out to the Lord Jesus “Blessings, honor, glory and might forever” and worship him, bowing low to the ground. Like the heavens and heavenly creatures already do today, we will join in declaring the glory of God.
Add to these examples of all creation either giving God glory, or being commanded not to give glory to another, there are numerous examples of God working for his own “name’s sake.” He is at work, not to make himself glorious, but to reveal his glory to his creation.
Knowing that all of creation is for God’s glory changes everything about our lives, or at least it should. It explains why we shouldn’t be a boastful braggart. Not because no one will like you, though they won’t. You are stealing the glory that belongs to God alone, and failing to do what he created you for. Check and see how that worked out for Herod in Acts 12.
Knowing that all creation is for the glory of God gives us firm ground to fight dark thoughts. When you are tempted to believe life is meaningless, you can remind yourself, “No it isn’t! Life is about glorifying God.” The soul that is focused on the glory of God will not easily be overcome by crippling introspection.
Further, knowing that the purpose of life is to glorify God gives us a guide as we consider the course of our lives. “Can I do this to the glory of God?” is a good place to start as you think about any decision in life, whether it be engaging in business, a relationship, or a hobby. “Am I doing this to the glory of God?”, is a diagnostic question for all of life. If the answer is no, the activity may still not be wrong, but your heart is. Evaluate both your heart and your actions and fulfill your purpose, glorify God.
Yours in Christ,