The Purpose of Man's Creation

By Roy Loney

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     When Jesus stood before Pilate, he was asked, "Art thou a king?" He replied, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth" (John 18:37). These words of Jesus reveal his divine purpose in coming into the world. His presence here was not just a whim of the Lord, not just a happen-so, but the result of a definite, divine plan. That purpose was to bless and redeem man, and in so doing he would honor and glorify his Father. On another occasion Christ declared, "I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38). In carrying out the will or purpose of God, Christ endured the shame and suffering of the cross for man's sake. What a glorious purpose and mission he had!

     While learning the purpose of Christ's presence in the world, we dare not neglect the facts of our own purpose here. When the Almighty breathed into lifeless clay the breath of life, thus forming man, his purpose was clear and distinct. Truly he has a purpose for every individual. "Every one that is called by my name: For I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, yea I have made him" (Isaiah 43:7). This harmonizes with

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what is stated in Revelation 4:11. John saw a vision of God's throne, with unnumbered thousands before that throne, among whom were four and twenty elders, who bowed in worshipful adoration before the Lord saying, "Thou art worthy, o Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

     It will be to our eternal credit if we will humbly and reverently study the revealed will of God as to our relationship to God and his divine purpose for us. We were not placed here to live for self, not to indulge our appetites to the gratification of the flesh, but to so live that we can honor and glorify the divine Being, who through infinite love placed us here. We belong to God by virtue of the act of creation and God has a divine right to stipulate the manner in which we shall spend our lives. If the Lord had intended for us to live like mere animals, guided only by a physical desire, he would have made us to be animals. But we are not animals. God gave us intelligence superior to that of all animals, and placed within us a spirit that came from God; and he expects us to live above the lusts of the flesh because we have a higher destiny than that of beasts.

     Christ's parable in Luke 12:15-21 of the rich farmer most impressively illustrates this thought. The farmer's barns were full and the new crop ripening to the harvest gave promise of an abundant yield. The old barns were to be torn down and larger ones built, and then with plenty of material possessions on hand he would take his ease and "eat, drink and be merry." The possession of those goods was not in itself a sin. It was the selfish use he was making of his life that grieved the heart of God. He was soon to learn that man purposes, but that God disposes. The divine verdict "Thou Fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee and then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided" shows that God will not look with favor on a life spent entirely for self. To leave God out of one's life will be life's greatest mistake. We dare not ignore the fundamental fact that all life belongs to God, and must be used in the way and within the limits which God has prescribed.

     He who wastes life now, wastes it for all eternity. Jesus taught us that "whosoever findeth his life shall lose it; And whosoever loseth his life for my sake shall find it" (Matt. 16:25). We find life and happiness only through consecrated service to God, and humanity.

     God is not a tyrant who orders you about at his pleasure, and restricts your liberties just to make a show of his authority. God is a kind and loving Father, wiser than we are, who knows what is best for us. A child in ignorance might seek to play with a rattlesnake, not knowing of his danger. Sin is the poison of hell, and our Father seeks to save his children from Satan's destructive power, hence, he reveals to us the right and wrong use of life. May we humbly heed his divine admonitions and live accordingly.

"The Churches of Christ Salute You" Romans 16:16

     (The above is in tract form. Write to Roy Loney, 927 Louisiana St., Lawrence, Kansas, for sample and prices).