Monday, March 8, 2010

Brief Reflections, part 3: Man's Chief End

"What is the chief end of man? - To glorify God and enjoy Him forever." - WSC; 1

"Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."...

... Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."" - Rev. 4:9-11; 21:1-4


What a different lens on reality this is… To genuinely appreciate that the purpose of our existence is the glory of someone else, and that we are built to find joy in that, would certainly change how we live. When God walks down the street in the Heavenly Jerusalem, you simply don't notice anyone else; least of all yourself. Living in light of eternity, we ought to practice; begin living out what it means to find joy in someone else’s glory, now. This directly affects how we live with one another, not as competitors, but as self-giving advocates. There is a reason that loving God and loving others goes hand in hand... selfishness simply has no foothold in eternity.

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