Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It is also the book of beginnings because it tells us the origins of life and accurately explains the main problem of the world–Sin. From the first two chapters of Genesis, we are made to know there is a Creator who created the world and all that dwells in it (Genesis 1:1, 31, 2:26-27). After creation, God saw that everything He had created was good (Genesis 1:31). But today, in contrast to Genesis 1:31, the world in its current state is not good. It is a world filled with pain, tragedy, wickedness, cruelty and every horror imaginable. How do we reconcile the current state of the world with God’s proclamation that “everything that he had made…was very good”. The answer is that sin entered the world. So;

What Is Sin?

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God [a]. Lev 5:17;   Jas 4:17;   1 John 3:4

~Westminster Shorter Catechism Q14

In these words we see what sin is. Sin is breaking God’s law by omission or commission. In modern English, the words, “want of conformity” will read something like inability to conform to the law of God or failure to measure up to or obey God’s command. In Greek, the word hamartia is used in explaining what sin is. Sin is “missing the mark” and rightly so, we are all sinners because we have missed the mark of God’s righteous standard (Romans 3:23).

Now, how did sin enter the perfect world God created? We again go back to Genesis, the book of origins. In Genesis 2:16-17, we read of a commandment God gave Adam, the first created man, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”. Fast foward to Genesis 3, Adam disobeyed God; he ate of the forbidden tree and by that act of disobedience, sin entered the world.

Adam in the garden of Eden was acting as a federal head for all of humankind therefore his fall became the fall of all who will ever walk this earth: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”(Romans 5:12).

Except Jesus who lived a perfect life without sin, all humankind inherited the consequences and effects of Adam’s fall; physical and spiritual death. Our nature was badly corrupted and we were alienated from God. The Psalmist said “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).

What he means here is that he was born with a sin problem. He inherited sin. We are by ourselves unable to please God: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:11-12). These words describes the helpless state of humankind without Christ. They are enemies of God, separated from Him and guilty of eternal damnation.

However God didn’t leave sinners to our fate to try to work our way to Him. God made the first move towards reconciling sinful humankind to Himself. If you read Genesis 3 again, we see that even in their sins, God’s mercy was manifested. Firstly, God proclaimed what theologians refer to as protoevangelium–the first gospel. God announced His plans towards reconciliation. A curse was pronounced and a remedy for that curse was also revealed:

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15).

The seed of the woman being referred to here is Christ who the Bible speaks of by saying “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil”(1John 3:8). The works of the devil is sin that separated us from God. And it is this, Jesus died to destroy. He took the punishment that belonged to sinners. He died in our place to appease for our sins and reconcile us to the Father. Our sins was imputed to Him. He became our substitutionary atonement  (Isaiah 53:5-6).

Secondly, God covered the nakedness (guilt and shame) of Adam and Eve revealing a type of Christ’s imputed righteousness to those who will come to Faith through Jesus Christ. Paul aptly captures this saying, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Corinthians 5:21).

Christ was murdered on the cross because of the sins of you and I. And He resurrected to give eternal life to all who will come to Him in Faith  If you have not come to saving faith through Christ, you are condemned to eternal damnation and an enemy of God. One day, you will have to answer for your sins before a Holy God and nothing you will present will measure up to God’s Holy standard. Your good works outside of Christ are like filthy rags. Repent from your sins and turn to Christ for forgiveness.

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Why are we on earth? What is the essence of human life? Why did God create us? What is the purpose for our lives? These are familiar questions that have engaged the minds of virtually all human beings irrespective of their religious background as long as man has been alive. Regardless of who you are, at some point in life, the question of one’s purpose in life will come up.

The answer to this question is often not straight forward, and the response often varies depending on who you ask. Some of the most notable responses I have heard are, “I am here to fulfil my mission”. “I am here to accomplish a purpose”. “I am here to impact my generation”. A more ambitious answer will read “I am here to change the world”.

As believers, the wisest thing to do is to answer the question of the purpose of our lives from the perspective of God. Indeed, God created us and He only knows the end to which He created us.

To this I turn to the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism

What is the chief end of man?

You see, the answers, “I am here to fulfill my mission”, “I am here to accomplish a purpose”, “I am here to impact my generation” and “I am here to change the world” are not wrong in themselves. But when we attend to the question posed by the catechism again, we notice all the answers fall short. Of all the many reasons people hold as the reason for their existence, the catechism is asking us, which of them stands out? Not two, not three–but the one that summarises all of human existence-“Man’s chief end,” The Catechism answers “is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever”.

Here we see before us, the very reason for human existence;

(I). Glorify God and

(II). Enjoy Him Forever.

This is what we  were created for. This is why we were born. This is the whole essence of human existence. You can write up a thousand and one reasons for human existence, but the sum of it all will be to “Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever”. If this is the whole reason for our existence, then it is  of utmost importance to understand what it means to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

1. Glorifying God

A Charge to keep I have. A God to glorify

~ Charles Wesley

God is the Creator of the universe and all that is within it. He created the universe and its inhabitants for His glory: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”(Revelation 4:11). This is a scene in heaven where the heavenly creatures ascribe glory to God. They acknowledge the supremacy of God. He is worthy to receive glory, honour and power! God has certain attributes that set Him apart from all of His creation. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness  and truth (WSCQ4). All these and many others describes the very essence of God.

To glorify God therefore is to first and foremost acknowledge Him and all of His power and attributes. It is to give God first place in our lives. Some have no place for God in their lives. Either they don’t believe in His existence or if they do, they do not submit to Him. The Bible in Romans 1:18-37 describes what happens to people who do not acknowledge God in their lives. They are left to themselves. The purpose of their existence becomes distorted because they reject God. And when people reject God, they are set loose to indulge their flesh and pleasures to their own shame and punishment. Not so with the believer. Our motivations, desires, drive and aspirations must align with God’s will.

Secondly, glorifying God means living a life that pleases Him. All we do as believers must be geared towards this one great end–the glory of God; because that is what we were created for, to bring glory to God (Isaiah 60:21, Romans 11:36). We are not free to live a self-pleasing life. We are God’s. He is our Creator. He owns us. He redeemed us for Himself that we will bring glory to His Holy name: “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1Corinthians 6:20). In Ecclesiastes 12:13, after Solomon had offered all his wise counsels, he makes a remarkable conclusion worth our meditation: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man”. Fear God, keep His commandments and you have found your purpose for existence.

This is a non-negotiable, our lives must be glorifying to God in all we do: “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”(1Corinthians 10:31).

Finally, glorifying God involves worship–adoration, praise and exaltation. In Psalm 86:9, we see this truth well illustrated. The Psalmist said “All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name” Clearly, the first and second points logically leads to worship and adoration. See how the text quoted points to this: (i) All the nations you have made (ii) shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

To acknowledge God as a Creator must produce an awe in us leading us to break forth in doxology.

2: Enjoy God Forever.

Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee

~St. Augustine

In Augustine’s statement, we find a profound truth. God created us for Himself, and it is only in Him we will find our true satisfaction. When you look around, it is obvious people are seeking for satisfaction in wrong places. Some have turned to alcohol and drugs to find satisfaction for the emptiness of their souls. While others sink their souls in illicit relationships and sex, materialism and worldliness. All these are temporal measures for an eternal problem. .

One of my favourite Scriptures, John 6:68 points to a life that is totally surrendered to Christ without alternatives: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68). To Peter, Christ was his all. Every believer must come to a point in their lives where they are fully aware all they are and will ever become takes its source from God. We must be able to say with Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” Jesus said, “without me you can do nothing”(John 15:5).

In Psalm 16:5-11, the Psalmist reveals to us the profundity of who God is to him. In verse 5, he tells us the Lord is his portion. Under the Mosaic covenant God chose the Levites, setting them apart for sanctuary services. Unlike the other tribes, He gave them no inheritance. They didn’t own lands and property because God had told Aaron “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel” (Numbers 18:20). This, though it will not apply to us directly today, the application remains that God is our “portion and inheritance”. Indeed, you can gain the whole world and lose your soul. But if God is your portion, then you have found life and satisfaction in Him. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (v11)

How will you describe your relationship with God? Is your life glorifying to Him? Are you pleasing Him? Do you yearn to know Him? Can you say you love God? Are you enjoying Him? It is time to move away from the peripherals and actively engage your  heart in a deeper pursuit of God.

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