At our root, we are fundamentally creatures created for a purpose. This is a truth that is denied by many in our culture today. Given the worldview of Darwinian naturalism, we are nothing more that collections of atoms that happened to evolve in the manner that we have. We have no transcendent meaning or purpose, and when we die, it's over. Fortunately, however loudly out culture may proclaim this dogma, it does not make it any more true. The fact that we are created by God gives our lives meaning and significance beyond what we could ever imagine for ourselves.
What is that meaning and purpose? To answer this question, we must probe into the question of why God created everything to begin with. What was the end that he had in mind? What was the goal behind creating everything, including us? This is a question that haunted Jonathan Edwards for much of his life. He thought of it often, and his reflections span his writings. One day, he finally landed upon an idea that showed promise began penning the work titled THE END FOR WHICH GOD CREATED THE WORLD . The primary insight of that work is this: The meaning and purpose of man is glorify God and enjoy him forever.
This truth has good and bad implications. The good is that our hearts are constantly searching for something greater. We as a human race continually reach out for that which will satisfy our souls. This is a great grace of God! Without God creating us in this way, we would never search out after him at all. We would be perfectly content to wallow in a mediocre state of life, never reaching out or yearning for more. Our drive to worship our God gives us great passion and zeal to find him out, and this passion and zeal benefits us as a race in many ways.
The bad implications of this truth are that we tend to create idols for ourselves. As we reach out to worship God, we are confronted with the fact that we are not worthy to approach him. Additionally, our sinful hearts drive us away from him if we are to catch a glimpse of his glory. His goodness is so antithetical to our sin that we would rather have the rocks hide us from his presence than bow down before him and ask forgiveness (Rev 6:16). So instead, we create gods for ourselves that we can handle - gods that are subject to our minds and conformed to our desires. Although we would often not admit it, our passionate pursuits in life display with HD clarity who we worship. We pursue with great zeal things such as careers, love, success, cars, homes, fame, respect, and power. Unfortunately, these things never bring satisfaction because we were never designed to worship these things. We were designed for so much more.
But a heart that has been opened by God's love, a heart that beats to the cosmic song of the glory of the One True God is doing exactly what it is made to do. It is in this embrace, in this great fellowship that we share with our Creator and Maker, that we find our greatest joy and worth. No longer to chase after the wind, we find our perfect peace and rest in our relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He made the way for us to return to him. He made it possible to once again be what we were created to be. Are you tired of chasing after worldly pursuits that do not gratify? Beloved, come to your God.
“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David."
Is 55:1–3.
-tanner
What is that meaning and purpose? To answer this question, we must probe into the question of why God created everything to begin with. What was the end that he had in mind? What was the goal behind creating everything, including us? This is a question that haunted Jonathan Edwards for much of his life. He thought of it often, and his reflections span his writings. One day, he finally landed upon an idea that showed promise began penning the work titled THE END FOR WHICH GOD CREATED THE WORLD . The primary insight of that work is this: The meaning and purpose of man is glorify God and enjoy him forever.
This truth has good and bad implications. The good is that our hearts are constantly searching for something greater. We as a human race continually reach out for that which will satisfy our souls. This is a great grace of God! Without God creating us in this way, we would never search out after him at all. We would be perfectly content to wallow in a mediocre state of life, never reaching out or yearning for more. Our drive to worship our God gives us great passion and zeal to find him out, and this passion and zeal benefits us as a race in many ways.
The bad implications of this truth are that we tend to create idols for ourselves. As we reach out to worship God, we are confronted with the fact that we are not worthy to approach him. Additionally, our sinful hearts drive us away from him if we are to catch a glimpse of his glory. His goodness is so antithetical to our sin that we would rather have the rocks hide us from his presence than bow down before him and ask forgiveness (Rev 6:16). So instead, we create gods for ourselves that we can handle - gods that are subject to our minds and conformed to our desires. Although we would often not admit it, our passionate pursuits in life display with HD clarity who we worship. We pursue with great zeal things such as careers, love, success, cars, homes, fame, respect, and power. Unfortunately, these things never bring satisfaction because we were never designed to worship these things. We were designed for so much more.
But a heart that has been opened by God's love, a heart that beats to the cosmic song of the glory of the One True God is doing exactly what it is made to do. It is in this embrace, in this great fellowship that we share with our Creator and Maker, that we find our greatest joy and worth. No longer to chase after the wind, we find our perfect peace and rest in our relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He made the way for us to return to him. He made it possible to once again be what we were created to be. Are you tired of chasing after worldly pursuits that do not gratify? Beloved, come to your God.
“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David."
Is 55:1–3.
-tanner