We Were Made for This

There are few questions more important than this: Why am I here? Every generation wrestles with that question. Some spend their lives pursuing success, believing they'll find purpose through achievement. Others chase wealth, relationships, influence, or experiences, hoping one more accomplishment will finally satisfy the longing inside their hearts. Yet even after reaching their goals, many discover that something still feels incomplete.

The Bible gives us a remarkably clear answer to the question of our purpose. We weren't created merely to exist, survive, or accumulate things. We weren't designed to make ourselves the center of the story. We were created by God, for God, and ultimately to display His glory.

We’re going to spend the next few weeks by taking a deep dive into our greater purpose on this planet. And if you asked that question of various pastors and professors of theology, myself included, many of us would say the chief reason we were created is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Are you familiar with that phrase? Have you heard it used before?

The phrase "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever" comes from the Westminster Shorter Catechism, specifically Question 1, which asks:

Q.  What is the chief end of man?
A.  Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. 

Let me give you a little more background on that statement and the catechism itself. The catechism was written in 1647 by the Westminster Assembly, which was a gathering of theologians and church leaders that was actually convened by the English Parliament during the English Civil War.

Their goal was to provide doctrinal standards for the churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland. And even though the catechism was never fully adopted by the Church of England, it became a foundational statement of faith for many believers and churches around the world, particularly those of the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions. In my opinion, some of the best and most helpful theology is found right there.

That’s also the truth that will be anchoring this entire series. Over the next several weeks, we'll simply explore what it means to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Those two ideas belong together. The God who deserves all glory is also the God who invites His people into lasting joy. The more we delight in Him, the more our lives reflect His greatness.

Look with me at the first verse of Isaiah 43:

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1) 

Notice where God begins. He doesn't start off reminding Israel what they should do. He reminds them whose they are.

He created them. He formed them. He redeemed them. He called them by name. He claimed them as His own.

Our identity has always been meant to flow from our Creator rather than from our accomplishments. Before Scripture tells us how to live, it tells us who God is and who we are in relationship to Him.

That's important to recognize because our culture constantly encourages us to invent our own identity. In fact, I think it can be fairly said that that’s one of the biggest themes of this era of history. We’re told to define ourselves however we choose and pursue whatever makes us feel “fulfilled.” Yet when we become our own creators, we also become responsible for finding our own purpose. That's a burden God never intended us to carry. And the reason God never tells us to find our own purpose is because that’s impossible to do. It’s a waste of time and leads to frustration and discouragement.

The Lord lovingly reminds His people that they belong to Him. If we want to get closer to understanding why we’ve been created, this is something we need to fully appreciate.

God assures His people by saying…

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2)

Please be sure to notice that God never promises an easy life, but He promises His presence.

It’s also worth noticing that He says when, not if, His people pass through deep waters and fiery trials. Meaning, difficulty isn't evidence that God has abandoned us. Often, it's in those very moments that His faithfulness becomes most visible.

Why?

Because our purpose doesn't disappear when life becomes difficult. In fact, hardship often becomes one of the greatest opportunities to glorify God. When believers continue trusting Christ through suffering, the watching world sees something it can't explain apart from God's grace.

Our confidence isn't built on favorable circumstances. It's built on the unchanging character of God.

The Lord then reveals why His people are so precious to Him:

"Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.” (Isaiah 43:4)

It's easy to read those words and immediately think about our own worth. Certainly they remind us that God genuinely loves His people. But His love isn't rooted in us deserving it. Israel most certainly hadn't earned His affection through flawless obedience. Again and again throughout the Old Testament, they wandered into rebellion, idolatry, and unbelief.

God's love rested on His covenant faithfulness, and the same is true for us.

If God's love depended on our performance, none of us would have confidence. Our hope rests entirely on His grace. He loves us because He has chosen to set His love upon us.

That truth becomes even clearer through Jesus Christ.

Roughly seven centuries after Isaiah spoke these words, Jesus came as the fulfillment of God's redeeming plan. Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, Christ accomplished the redemption Isaiah anticipated.

The New Testament repeatedly teaches that those who trust in Christ are adopted into God's family. We become His sons and daughters, not because we've earned a place there, but because Jesus secured that place for us.

In Christ, the words "You are mine" become highly personal.

Isaiah then reaches the heart of what we’re talking about today:

“everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”  (Isaiah 43:7)

This verse answers one of life's greatest questions.

Why were we created?

For God's glory. 

That statement isn't meant to diminish us. It's meant to liberate us.

Many people assume that glorifying God means God is somehow self-centered. But Scripture reveals something far different. God alone possesses infinite beauty, holiness, wisdom, power, justice, and love. For Him to point us anywhere else would actually be unloving because nothing else can ultimately satisfy the human heart.

Think about it this way.

We have a water filter built into our refrigerator that needs to be changed every six months. Thankfully, it’s easy to change and I really enjoy the taste of the water after its been filtered. I suspect I’m not alone in enjoying the taste of clean water.

Well, if you were walking out in nature on a hot day, I imagine you would eventually become thirsty for something good to drink. And if someone directed you away from fresh water toward a polluted stream, they wouldn't be helping you. They'd be leading you toward disappointment and harm.

God continually points us toward Himself because He alone is the source of eternal life.

This is why glorifying God and enjoying Him forever aren't competing ideas.

They're inseparable.

The more clearly we see God's greatness, the more our hearts delight in Him.

The more we delight in Him, the more naturally our lives bring Him glory.

Sin has distorted this design from the very beginning.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Adam and Eve to believe that life apart from God would be better than life with God. Ever since then, humanity has been chasing substitutes for the joy only God can provide.

Some seek fulfillment through possessions. I see this a lot with vehicle purchases. Cars are nice, but they can’t satisfy the deepest longing of your soul.

Others seek fulfillment through careers. When I was in college, I used to daydream constantly about what life would be like when I was finally serving in pastoral ministry. It’s honestly been a blessing, even on the most difficult days, but it doesn’t satisfy the deepest longing of my soul.

Some seek fulfillment through entertainment. Others through popularity. Others through physical fitness, education, cosmetic surgery, relationships, and more.

None of those things were created to carry the weight of our identity.

Only God can do that.

This is why even tremendous success often leaves people feeling empty. Every created thing eventually reveals its limitations. Careers end. Wealth fluctuates. Health fades. Relationships disappoint. Achievements lose their excitement.

But God remains forever.

As David wrote over 3,000 years ago:

"You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

I have a portion of that Psalm hanging in my living room, so I’ll see it every day.

Notice where fullness of joy is found.

It isn’t merely found in God's gifts, even though they can help point us in the right direction. The fullness of joy is only found in God's presence.

The greatest blessing God gives us is Himself.

Jesus affirmed this truth during His earthly ministry. In His High Priestly Prayer He said:

"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

Eternal life isn't just an endless existence. It's knowing God. That relationship begins now and continues forever.

That means that through Christ we're invited back into the very purpose for which humanity was originally created.

Practically speaking, I think that changes how we view every part of life.

Work becomes an opportunity to honor God.

Family becomes an opportunity to reflect His love.

Friendships become opportunities to display His grace.

Suffering becomes an opportunity to trust Him.

Success becomes an opportunity to thank Him.

Even ordinary routines can become acts of worship when they're offered to Him with grateful hearts.

The apostle Paul summarized it like this:

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Notice how comprehensive that command is. Whatever you do. 

Even eating and drinking can become opportunities to recognize God's goodness.

There is no sacred-versus-secular divide for the follower of Christ. Every moment belongs to the Lord.

Our look at this concept today lays the foundation for everything we'll be studying throughout this series.

We glorify God by knowing Him.

We glorify God by trusting Him.

We glorify God by obeying Him.

We glorify God by loving others.

We glorify God by serving faithfully.

And through it all, we discover something beautiful. God isn't inviting us into a joyless existence of endless obligation. He's inviting us into the life we were always meant to live.

As we mentioned earlier, the Westminster Shorter Catechism begins by asking, "What is the chief end of man?" Its answer has encouraged believers for centuries: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."

Isaiah 43 reminds us that this isn't just a theological slogan. It's God's design for every human life.

You were not created accidentally.

You were not created aimlessly.

You were not created just to build your own kingdom.

You were lovingly formed by your Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and called into a relationship that will never end.

The world will constantly offer smaller purposes. It will tempt you to settle for temporary pleasures and passing accomplishments. But none of those things can compare with knowing Christ and living for His glory.

When your life is centered on Him, you begin experiencing the very purpose for which you were made.

And that isn’t only what brings God glory. It's also where lasting joy begins.

© John Stange, 2026