Have you ever asked yourself the question, "Why did God create man?" If not, may I suggest that it is a question worthy of your attention. Not only is this question worthy of your consideration, but it is imperative that you understand the why of your human existence. Without this understanding, you will wander aimlessly through life. But where shall we go to obtain the answer? Are we to rely on mere philosophical speculation for an answer or has God revealed the answer? My friend, God has revealed it in His Word!

In Paul's epistle to the church at Ephesus, he deals extensively with several aspects of God's eternal purpose. He begins by addressing himself to man's purpose on earth. Actually it is not man's purpose on earth but God's purpose for him. Give attention to the words from the inspired apostle's pen.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing In the heavenly places in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him 1n love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us In the Beloved" (Eph. 1:3-6).

Notice where Paul begins. He begins with Grid for man has no purpose in life apart from God. He is worthy of our blessing because He has blessed us. He has blessed mankind with all material blessings. Far greater are the .spiritual blessings which His children have in Christ. Think of the many things that we are benefactors of Him because of our relationship to God in Christ. They serve to protect, comfort, strengthen, and sustain us. Despite our unworthiness, God clothes His children with endless blessings. The greatest is that He chose us to be His. We are His children and He is our Father. There is no greater achievement among men than to be called a child of God. But how did He choose us? Did he randomly pick us out from among the mass of mankind? This is the usual meaning of "choose" but it is not so used here. God did not choose from the mass of mankind which individuals would be saved and which would be lost. Rather He chose what characteristics those that He would call His would have. We could say that He decided "what kind" but left it up to each individual as to "who" would be saved. Praise God! I can of my own choice become a child of God.

But what are the characteristics that God determined His people would have? He determined that we should be "holy and without blemish before him in love." God's people are to be a special people to Him. Their lives are to be characterized by purity and holiness. "But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9, 10). In this manner they are to stand before Jehovah. But how will the child of God achieve this standard of life? Paul explains that it can only be done by those who are motivated by love. No man has ever achieved holiness by merely trying to keep God's law apart from love as the motivation force behind his obedience. J. W. McGarvey once said, "Law without love is machinery without a motor." Paul wrote, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love" (Gal. 5:6). If a man is going to stand holy before God, it will be because of his love for God and not out of obligation to. the law. This is what God chose before the foundation of the world. He chose a people who would be holy and without blemish before Him in love. This He foreordained according to His good pleasure that we might be His sons through Jesus Christ.

We have seen what God purposed to do. Why did He do it? Why did God create man? The answer is simple. God desired that out of all the human race, there would be those who in response to His love and mercy, would voluntarily of their own accord serve Him out of love. Their lives would be a sacrifice for worship unto Jehovah who through His glorious grace redeemed them in the Beloved.

This is the reason of our human existence. We are not here merely to enjoy life and grab all the gusto we can. God put us here that we might serve him. May we realize this great purpose and give our lives as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1-2).

Truth Magazine XXI: 45, pp. 717-718
November 17, 1977