— by Caleb Glafenhein
What’s the Chief finish of man? The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines it this fashion:
The chief finish of man is to glorify God and revel in Him endlessly.
I consider that God is most glorified in us once we are most glad in Him. And I additionally consider that if we have been to look at our hearts and minds, we might discover we spend a variety of time and vitality usually in search of methods to be glad (outdoors of Jesus), trying to issues on this earth for success, and trying to find function and which means to all our work and toil—and all our actions. We’re advised, “For what does it revenue a person to achieve the entire world and forfeit his soul?[1] That may be a sobering thought—that we might work our whole lives, even in direction of good issues, and but forfeit our souls. How does one work in a approach as to not lose his/her soul? Paul writes to the Corinthian church and tells them, “So, whether or not you eat or drink, or no matter you do, do all to the glory God.”[2] This offers a motive and a purpose, a chief finish for our work— particularly, the glory of God.
If the chief finish of man is God’s glory, how does my pleasure issue into this equation after I take into account that there could also be a variety of work that I don’t get pleasure from? Possibly for some, work usually is a chore, a constructing block to one thing extra joyful and enjoyable than the grind of labor? Possibly we work now in order that we don’t must work sometime, striving for retirement, free time, fame, or a legacy. Possibly we work simply to outlive, to place meals on the desk, and to supply for our households. Possibly we work as a result of we adore it—we love creating, fixing issues, and developing with options. However no matter our aspirations in life and work, we ought to contemplate what our Creator thinks about work and His need for us. Paul each warns and instructs Timothy about what God offers us, that we’re “to not set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches, however on God, who richly supplies us with the whole lot to get pleasure from.”[3] God needs that we get pleasure from His blessings— work included—and that we acknowledge Him because the giver. We must always acknowledge Him and provides Him thanks, and on this, He’s glorified.[4] God is glorified once we give Him thanks.
“There’s a approach that appears proper to a person, however its finish is the best way to dying.”[5] My need on this paper is to level [us] to the work that results in pleasure, life, and the glory of God, which could forestall us from striving after a piece that results in dying. Jesus instructs us: “Don’t work for the meals that perishes, however for the meals that endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man offers you.” And in case you are like the group who adopted Jesus, you may ask like them, “What should we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “That is the work of God, that you just consider in him whom he has despatched.”[6]
“And that is everlasting life, that they know you the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you’ve despatched. I glorified you on earth, having achieved the work that you just gave me to do.”[7]
“To start with, God created the heavens and the earth.”[8] This assertion is foundational for the whole lot I’ll write. One other foundational perception is that this: “To start with was the Phrase and the Phrase was with God and the Phrase was God. He was at first with God. All issues have been made by means of him, and with out him was not something made that was made. And the Phrase turned flesh and dwelt amongst us, and we’ve got seen his glory, glory as of the one Son from the Father, filled with grace and reality.”[9] Jesus, the Phrase, turned flesh.
In 2020, COVID-19 turned a worldwide pandemic which shook the world of its fragile foundations. We’ve got been reminded of our frailty, that dying is a actuality all of us should face. Our days on earth are brief, like a mist.[10] As Christians, Jesus is our basis; subsequently, allow us to work and construct on Him, the cornerstone, the rock and pleasure of our salvation. “For nobody can lay a basis apart from that which is already laid, which is Christ Jesus.”[11]
The work God offers us to do—what’s it?
Imagine in Jesus Christ.[12]
This may increasingly sound actually easy, or perhaps even summary, however this requires religion (believing with out seeing) in one thing apart from ourselves—and never simply in something, however in Jesus Christ, the Solely Son of God, our Maker. If believing in Christ is the work God has for me [us] to do, how does that apply to my on a regular basis life? And the way does that apply to my attainment of pleasure, my function, and my which means in life? And the way does believing in Christ carry glory to God? After which, how will we get this religion to consider?
Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our religion.[13]
Allow us to go on a fast journey, wanting on the lifetime of Jesus and His sayings as our instance of what residing a life that glorifies God seems to be like. We are going to take a look at the work He achieved, that was given to Him by God. Jesus is our instance, and He not solely bids us to “repent and consider,”[14] however He additionally says to, “Observe me,”[15] and to, “Come to me… and study from me.”[16] Due to this fact, we’ll look to Him and search to stroll in His paths, by the assistance of His Holy Spirit, within the work of believing and discovering pleasure in Him.
This listing under shouldn’t be complete however is a useful begin as we glance to Jesus.
-
Jesus was in relationship with God the Father. He was with God at first.[17] [18] Jesus knew God, and He made Him recognized.[19] This our work as effectively, to know God and to make Him recognized.
-
Jesus created with God the Father. All issues have been created by means of Him and for Him.[20] We create, innovate, remedy issues, restore, serve, steward, and love due to Him, by Him, and “for Him”—“by the power that God provides, so that in the whole lot, God could also be glorifed by means of Jesus Christ.”[21]
-
Jesus obeyed God the Father. This can be a big level; so, we’ll take a look at some references to get a greater image of this humility, this willful obedience, performing in good submission to the Father. Though equal with the Father, because the Son, Jesus submitted to the desire of the Father—“For I’ve come down from heaven, to not do my very own will however the will of him who despatched me,”[22] and, “Who, although he was within the type of God, didn’t rely equality with God a factor to be grasped, however emptied himself, by taking the shape a servant, being born within the likeness of males. And being present in human kind, he humbled himself by changing into obedient to the purpose of dying, even dying on a cross.”[23]
-
Jesus fulfilled the Scripture. Take into account Isaiah’s prophecy within the Outdated Testomony: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, as a result of he has anointed me to proclaim excellent news to the poor. He has despatched me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those that are oppressed, to proclaim the yr of the Lord’s favor.”[24] That is actually excellent news and is our name as believers, to proclaim that Jesus units the captive free. And this freedom shouldn’t be a political freedom however a freedom of the center. We’re now not enslaved to sin; sin is now not our grasp.
-
Jesus got here as a “For even the Son of Man got here to not be served, however to serve and to present his life as a ransom for a lot of.”[25] We’re to be servants, simply as Christ was for us. Take into account Paul’s cost to the Corinthians, “That is how one ought to regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Furthermore, it’s required of stewards that they be discovered trustworthy.”[26]
-
Jesus got here to name and save He mentioned, “Those that are effectively don’t have any want for a doctor, however those that are sick. I got here to not name the righteous, however sinners.”[27] In John, we learn, “For God didn’t ship his Son into the world to sentence the world, however so that the world is likely to be saved by means of him.”[28] And Paul writes to Timothy and tells him, “The saying is reliable and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus got here into the world to save lots of sinners, of whom I’m the foremost.”[29]
-
Jesus spoke to us that we could have His pleasure fulfilled in us. Jesus says, “…These items I converse on the planet, that they could have my pleasure fulfilled in themselves.”[30] And once more, Jesus says, “These items I’ve spoken to you, that my pleasure could also be in you, and that your pleasure could also be full.”[31] One of many methods we get this pleasure is by abiding in God’s phrase—studying, meditating, praying, and understanding Jesus. David tells us within the Psalms that God “makes recognized to me the paths of life; in your presence there may be fullness of pleasure; at your proper hand are pleasures forevermore.”[32] Due to this fact, allow us to search the presence of the Lord, and discover pleasure.
-
Jesus got here to be gentle. John refers to Jesus as gentle saying, “The sunshine shines within the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”[33] And Jesus says, “I’m the sunshine of the world. Whoever follows me won’t stroll in darkness, however can have the sunshine of life.” [34]
-
Jesus bore witness to the Pilate mentioned to Jesus, “So you’re a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I’m a king. For this function I used to be born and for this function I’ve come into the world—to bear witness to the reality. Everybody who’s of the reality listens to my voice.”[35] Pilate mentioned to him, “What’s reality?” Jesus prays to God the Father for us, “Sanctify them in fact, your phrase is reality.”[36]
-
Jesus is the door to God the Father in heaven. Jesus says, “I’m the door of the sheep,”[37] And “To him [the shepherd] the gatekeeper opens,”[38] which means that no sheep enters within the subject (heaven) except by means of the door (Jesus). That is mentioned one other approach by Jesus later within the e-book of John when He states, “I’m the best way, and the reality, and the life. Nobody involves the Father besides by means of me.”[39]
I might add many extra phrases to explain the best way of Jesus, however in abstract, as we take into account our work of believing and the enjoyment that comes from following and obeying Jesus, allow us to take into account the phrases of Solomon, who spent a lifetime chasing every kind of pleasures on this world, trying to find satisfaction and success. He writes of his experiences within the e-book of Ecclesiastes and concludes with these phrases: “The tip of the matter; all has been heard. Concern God and maintain his commandments, for that is the entire obligation of man.”[40]
And lastly, Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans, “For all have sinned and fall wanting the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a present, by means of the redemption that’s in Christ Jesus….”[41] Oh, allow us to keep in mind the immeasurable riches of God’s grace in direction of us who consider: “For by grace you’ve been saved by means of religion. And this isn’t your individual doing; it’s the present of God, not a results of works, in order that nobody could boast. For we’re his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God ready beforehand, that we must always stroll in them.”[42]
What’s the work God offers us to do? It’s to consider in Christ and to stroll in His good works.
