Purpose of Our Being Created
Westminster Confession of Faith Catechism:
1. What is the chief end of man?
Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
I’m not against this answer of the WCOF catechism, but I believe there is a better answer or at least it is my own opinion.
Len:
What is the chief end of man?
Man’s chief end is to fellowship with God and serve Him forever.
Fellowship:
We were created differently than other beings and things on earth. Everything material was created by God’s verbal command, but humans were created by the shaping by God’s hands and the breath of life (Genesis 2:7).
Jesus (the creator) fellowshipped with Adam and Eve:
Genesis 3:8 (AFV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Then Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Jesus with Enoch:
Genesis 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah three hundred years, and begot sons and daughters.
Noah:
Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Nation of Israel:
Deuteronomy 23:14, Leviticus 26:12, and Christians as in 2 Corinthians 6:16.
Required of all people:
Micah 6:8 (LHB) He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
In all of this, we are to please God in everything (Colossians 1:10).
Fellowship lost:
Humans are separated from God. God is holy and cannot tolerate evil to live with Him. We are evil. God must judge and punish evil. Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
Humans are enemies:
Nahum 1:2-3 (WEB) Yahweh is a jealous God and avenges. Yahweh avenges and is full of wrath. Yahweh takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies. 3 Yahweh is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Yahweh has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Jesus suffered, died, buried, and rose again to provide salvation to all who place their faith and trust in Jesus alone. This faith results in restored fellowship with God:
2 Corinthians 5:18 (NKJV) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
Luke 18:13 (NKJV) And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Reconciliation:
Amos 3:3 (AFV) Can two walk together unless they be agreed?
John 14:23 (AFV) Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
Romans 5:10-11 (VW) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Christians today from Pentecost and beyond:
1 John 1:3 (AFV) That which we have seen and have heard we are reporting to you in order that you also may have fellowship with us; for the fellowship—indeed, our fellowship— is with the Father and with His own Son, Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:9 (AFV) God is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eternal:
Revelation 22:1-5 (EHV) The angel showed me the river of the water of life, which was as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. 2 In the middle of the city’s street and on each side of the river was a tree of life that yielded twelve kinds of fruit. The tree yields its fruit every month, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face. His name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will no longer be any night or any need for lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
Serve:
People who are not believers in the Lord Jesus and/or do not fear God cannot serve God, for their sins are obnoxious to Him.
Those who are believers and fear God:
Daniel 3:17-18 (NKJV) If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Malachi 3:18 (NKJV) Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
Luke 16:13 (NKJV) “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Hebrews 12:28 (NKJV) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Adam and Eve:
Adam and Eve were created in God’s image. We are unique amount created beings. Genesis 5:1-2 (NKJV) This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.
Noah:
God commanded Noah, and he obeyed. Noah was a faithful servant. Genesis 6:13-22.
Abraham:
He served from his call in the Ur of the Chaldeans until death (Genesis 26:24).
Jacob:
God gives a prophecy to Ezekiel for Israel’s safety in the future and mentions the “land I gave to Jacob my servant (Ezekiel 28:25).
Moses:
He served the Lord from his call in the Mt Sinai region until death (Deuteronomy 34:5).
Daniel:
Daniel was a servant of the living God and served Him continually (Daniel 6:20).
Jesus:
Jesus taught and showed that He was a good servant of His Father (John 13:12-17 and Isaiah 42:1-4).
Paul:
Paul considered himself as a servant (Acts 20:18-19 and Acts 27:23).
Christians:
Luke 17:7-10, John 12:26, Romans 12:1 (we are ministers in service to Jesus), and Colossians 3:24.
Fellowship with God is found in spiritual food—the Bible (Hebrews 5:12-14, 2 Peter 2:1-2, and John 15:4-5). It is found in spiritual drink—the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives (God is the source (Jeremiah 2:13 and John 4:10-14). It is found in prayer—communicating with God (Daniel 6:11, Daniel 9:20, and Jude 1:20-21). It is found in the church house where believers worship God by singing, prayer, hearing the Scriptures read, and by godly preaching/teaching (Ephesians 5:19-20, John 14:23, and 1 Corinthians 1:9).
Serving God is seeking to live and speak God’s worldview, lifestyle, and the Law of Christ.
God’s worldview is a life of holiness. This worldview is seen best in contrast to evil. Evil is breaking the Mosaic Law in thoughts, words, desires, and deeds. Holiness is in keeping it. Evil is seen in the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Holiness is seen in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
God’s lifestyle is seen in that everything He does is in holiness. Every decision is in wisdom, love, and holiness. Every verdict is in holiness and righteousness (no partiality and in truth).
The Law of Christ is seen in Galatians 6:2 with over 1,000 rules. Some examples are Romans 12:1-21 and Ephesians 5:1-9.
Let us, who are Christians fellowship and serve God forever. Let us encourage and urge one another to do so.
And let us glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.