What We Are Made For

"The glory of God is the most powerful agent of transformation available to mankind. It is so powerful that it transforms those who merely gaze upon it. The Apostle Paul gives personal testimony concerning this stunning fact. 'But we all,' he says, 'beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.' From Paul's testimony I learn that if I wish to become all that God wants me to be, I must behold His glory each day.

But where do I find God's glory to behold? Indeed, the glory of God is revealed throughout all of Creation, but the Bible indicates that, outside of heaven, the glory of God in its thickest density dwells inside the gospel. It is for this reason that the gospel is described in Scripture as 'the gospel of the glory of Christ' and 'the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.'

Consequently, as I habitually gaze upon the glory of the Lord revealed in the gospel, I can know that actual deposits of God's very glory are attaching themselves to my person and transforming me from one level of glory to another. This transformation is deep and abiding, and unfadingly displays the glory of God to others."

-Milton Vincent, The Gospel Primer



Recently I have been thinking about the purpose of man, and how we can fulfill that purpose. We know from the catechism that we learned in our kindergarden class at church that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But how can we as sinful humans glorify God?

In the beginning when Adam and Eve were in the garden, they were without sin. They were fulfilling their purpose. They were without sin and they were completely glorifying God. God made us for a purpose, and we have rejected that purpose by sinning.

I am now an art student at ASU and recently thought of a good comparison. I have done quite a bit of drawing and I was trying to find the point of my art. What do my drawings do? They don't seem to have that big of a significance, besides getting me compliments. But then I realized that is their purpose. All of my drawings give me glory. When someone sees art, the piece itself doesn't get glory. Did the drawing make itself? No, that's absurd. The artist gets glory for creating the piece of art. The art merely reflects the artist's talent and skill.

That's exactly what we are supposed to do. We are to completely give God glory. But instead, we have forsaken our purpose. We have shaken our fist in God's face and said "Forget you, God. I'll give myself glory!" Because of this, we are sinful and are no longer perfect. So how do we get back to completely glorifying God?

That's where the gospel comes in. Christ has restored us by conquering sin on the cross. He has killed it, so we are no longer a slave to it, but rather slaves to God (like we were before). Now we know that we are still not perfect in this life, but we are to strive after perfection. We are to fight day in and day out to glorify God in this life. We will fail, but Christ knows that and that is why he has paid our punishment.

So I have two final charges to share with you from the Bible: 1) Strive after holiness that glorifies God and fight against sin (1 Peter 1:13-16). 2) Live in light of Christ's return. Look forward to glorifying God without the weigh of sin! (Romans 8:18-25)

Lord, I thank you so much for restoring us to you. I deserve hell, eternal death, for my treason against You. It truly is an amazing gift and undying, true love for you to die to save those who spit in your face and ran after our own glory. Thank you for bringing me back to You.

Lord, help me. Remind me over and over that I am no longer a slave to sin, but that I am free to follow you and to give glory to the One who deserves it. Lord, help me to glorify you here as preparation for glorifying you in heaven. Give me the strength to stand up against temptation and to fight against sin with the power that you have given us. Show me the innermost sinful desires of my heart, and aid me in waging war against them. I pray this, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who made this possible, and to give You and You alone glory.