If you are like me, you have probably wondered what God was thinking when he designed human beings. When you think about how he fine-tuned the universe and carefully crafted this planet to make life possible, it is apparent God had something special in mind for us.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) tells us, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Does that mean that our purpose is just to be robots for Jesus, merely responding to God’s directions? The Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1647, a statement of Christian doctrine, accepted by the Church of Scotland asked and answered that question:

Question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)

For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36 (NIV)

The next question might be: Who is God?
A 1998 Gallup survey revealed that a large majority of Americans profess a belief in God. The size of that majority varied, however, depending on how the survey question was worded. When asked a simple yes/no question: Do you believe in God? 86% responded in the affirmative. If asked, what about God —is it something you believe in, something you’re not sure about, or something you don’t believe in? the positive response dropped to 79%. Only 64% of those surveyed said they are convinced God exists.

The researchers would have no doubt found even fewer who professed a belief in the God of the Bible. The guy in the sky, the man upstairs, and other cute phrases fall short of describing the awesome God who Isaiah wrote about:

For this is what the LORD says— he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited— he says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:18

My co-author and editor Bonnie encourages me to avoid using the word “must” in my writing, but there is absolutely one “must” when it comes to glorifying God: The starting point for glorifying God must be to believe that HE exists.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

What does it mean to “glorify God?”
An immediate response might be that we glorify God when we praise and worship him. But those are external expressions that may not reflect an essential internal condition. Praise and worship are ways we glorify God—when they come from the heart.
Like the Psalmist, we pray: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23

Then with His assurance, we can shout:
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95

What about enjoying Him forever?
The second part of the answer to the question, “What is the Chief end of man? reminds us that we are to enjoy him forever. And forever begins with today.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4-5

Blessings,
Don & Bonnie