Larger Catechism
Question 1: What
is the primary and highest purpose of human beings?
Answer: The
primary and highest purpose of human beings is to glorify God and to enjoy him
completely forever.
How would people in Graham, Puyallup, Tacoma or Seattle
(yes, I live in Washington State) answer the question: “What is your purpose in life?” Answers to that question could include: to have fun, my family, save the earth, make
money, be happy, be the best I can be, none of your business, to party, to make
a difference, to love God, etc. However,
my guess is that many of those people would never have given serious thought to
what their highest purpose in life really is.
A person’s answer to the question about the purpose in
life centers on their world view—the lens through which they view the world,
life and everything there in. James
Sire, in his book The Universe Next Door,
identifies seven questions that shape a person’s world view. Those questions are:
1.
What is prime reality—the really real?
2.
What is the nature of external reality, that is,
the world around us?
3.
What is a human being?
4.
What happens to a person at death?
5.
Why is it possible to know anything at all?
6.
How do we know what is right and wrong?
7.
What is the meaning of human history?
The answers to these questions help shape and define a
person’s world view.
Following Jesus reshapes and redefines our world
view. Following Jesus causes us to take
the focus of our lives off of ourselves and place the focus of Jesus! We begin see that it is not “all about me.” What?
Following Jesus is not all about be?
Following Jesus is about FOLLOWING Jesus. Following Jesus means that the
primary/highest purpose of my life becomes about him and not about me!
Scripture tells us that we are to glorify God in all we
do. Period. End of story.
I am called to glorify God when I eat lunch in 25 minutes. I am to glorify God when I am at home with Brenda
tonight. I am to glorify God when I walk
to get my exercise. I am to glorify God
while standing the checkout line at the store.
Scripture also tells us that we are to enjoy being in the
presence of God—in the here and now and for all eternity. How does a person learn to “enjoy” being in
the presence of God? Good question! I like to use dating as an example of how a
person comes to enjoy being in God’s (Jesus’) presence. Typically, a first date is awkward. It has been a LONG time since Brenda and
dated. Our first date was VERY awkward. (In fact, I am really surprised that she
agreed to go on a second date with me.)
Subsequent dates become less awkward and more enjoyable. Learning to enjoy being in the presence of
God is also a learning process and takes time.
Early on it will feel awkward.
Gradually your time with Christ will become enjoyable. Eventually, your time with Jesus will become
a vital part of your life and who you are.
Truly, the primary and highest purpose of human beings is
to glorify God and to enjoy him completely forever. This Lent I hope that each
of us draws closer to Jesus—glorifying God and enjoying his being in his
presence.
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