Righteous country (part 4): 'Why were you created?
Here is a great question:
'Why were you created?'
The most common response to this question among Christians would be:
'I was created to give glory to God'
The above mentioned response is good and though it contains a great element of truth, it is not a complete response in light of the Scriptures. Always measure the strength of a response towards what the Scriptures quote. In this case, to the question: 'Why was I created?', this is what the Scriptures offer as a response:
'For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.'
(Ephesians 2:10)
The passage of Ephesians 2:10 brings the most exact response as to why we were created. Nobody can contradict it.And if anyone does argue it, he/she will be forced to contradict the Bible. Truth being said,the passage of Ephesians 2:10 is the least popular response to the question brought in today's article. In most cases, people will bring the following response:
'I was born to worship.I was born to glorify God...'
What we all need to understand is the teaching that Jesus brought in His message concerning the 'Light of this world'. In Matthew 5:13-16, He said:
'Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'
(King James Version)
Jesus mentions the term: 'good works' in the above passage and He also mentions that people will glorify the Father as a result of witnessing our good works. Therefore, Jesus was saying that we should shine as light by manifesting good works which in turn will cause men and women to glorify the Father.
If people say that they are created to glorify God, then they are not completely wrong. But their answer is incomplete. Let me show you another example showcasing that men and women were created for good works. In Genesis 2, the Bible records the following:
'This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.'
(Genesis 2:4-7)
Then in same chapter, the book of Genesis records the following:
'The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.'
(Genesis 2:15)
Have you noticed the reason why Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden? The Bible does not say that he was placed there to worship God. Even if you read the passage a thousand times, you will not find the word 'worship' as a reason for Adam's creation. And I will explain why.
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If you check the internet and and some of the articles posted out there, you will notice that many writers state that we were born to worship,adore God. If it is the case, then those writers are also saying that God is a narcissist who constantly needs people to tell Him how Great He is, or that He is a needy person in need of compliments.
The reason why I differ, is because I see 'worship and adoration' as a declaration of love towards God. It is a result of our 'falling in love' towards Him without being forced to love Him. If love is forced then it is no longer love.
Notice that Jesus in Matthew 5:13-16, never said that men will be forced to glorify God. But He mentions that 'as they see the good works we do, they (men) will glorify God (without being forced to). Their act of worship will be similar to an expression of 'falling' in love (like a love letter) triggered by what they experience.
I previously wrote a comprehensive post explaining why the angels and the Heavenly creatures worship God without ceasing. The post can be found here: My Father is still working
The best worship emanating from our hearts and lips often comes after the experience we had with the Lord. The same experience leads us to fall in love with Him deeper and deeper. Even a new convert has an experience with the Lord from the moment he/she gives her heart to the Lord.
In Exodus 20, The Lord gives to Israel the ten commandments. But notice that just before He utters them, He introduces Himself as the One who freed them from slavery:
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.'
(Exodus 20:1-2)
The passage of Exodus 20:1-2 reflects the experience, the works of the Lord and His relationship with Israel. Our experience with the Lord precedes our worship. And then in the following verses, God says:
'“You shall have no other gods before me.“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.'
( Exodus 20:3-7)
If you take the time to read again the above passage and even the entire ten commandments, you will notice that God does not say: 'Worship Me'.
God, however, forbids His people to worship other gods but He does not explicitly say:'Worship Me'. Do you want to know why?
'Because worship is expected to come voluntarily from His people after the experience they had with the Lord from the moment He freed them from Egypt. Worship is a voluntary love letter.
'The experience (the doing of the Lord-the work of the Lord) will always precede genuine worship.'
The end of of Exodus 20 proves my point. Check this out:
'Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.'
(Exodus 20:22-24, NIV)
Have you noticed what God said: 'Wherever I cause my name to be honored...'
God ,through his works, causes the worship from our hearts and lips. This also explains why Jesus said that people will glorify God when they see our works (reference:Matthew 5:13-16). Those works are not our own but these are works prepared by God in advance for us to do (ref.Ephesians 2:10).
God does not need to beg anyone for worship. In His triumphal entry to Jerusalem, Jesus was praised because the reputation of His works preceded Him, as the Bible says in Luke 19:36-39:
'As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,saying,“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
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God's works precede our worship. We were created for works prepared by God. When men see our works, they will give glory to God. It's an endless causal and voluntary loop.