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What is the purpose of our existence?
To glorify God (that is Yahweh God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) 'Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him' (Isaiah 43:7)
Yes, we have been created by Him and He desires that none should perish so that we may have everlasting life.
True, we must know Him and relate to Him and become more like Him. But, we must also glorify Him. Glorify means to bring honour to, magnify, glorify and honour.
Malachi wrote
"A son honours his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is my honour? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence? "Says the Lord of hosts (Malachi 1:6)
Scripture is consistent in encouraging us to Glorify Yahweh! 'You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him all you offspring of Israel!' (Psalm 22:3) Isaiah wrote 'Therefore glorify the Lord in the dawning light, the name of the Lord God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.' (Isaiah 24:15 see also 44:23, 49:3, 60:21 & 61:3)
We may talk about making a name for ourselves or having a good name or reputation. Yahweh takes great issue in that His name is glorified. Why? Because His name testifies of His ways, attributes and character. His name Yahweh means I AM and is derived from the verb 'to be'. In other words He is who He revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush I AM THAT I AM meaning I AM THAT I WILL BE. Yahweh is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent and by that very definition no one else can be partly God as He is obviously fully God.
There are seven pivotal I AM statements that Jesus declared of Himself in John's gospel.
I am the bread of life ( John 6:35)
I am the Light of the world (John 8:12)
I am the door (John 10:9)
I am the good Shepherd (John 10:11)
I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)
I am the vine (John 15:1)
When the Pharisees questioned Jesus as to whether He was greater than Abraham Jesus replied "Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was I AM." (John 8:58) In other words Jesus is fully God and should be glorified also! (see John 8:54, 11:4, 12:28 Luke 23:47, Acts 3:13)
Note in John 17 Jesus prayed to His Father saying 'Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may also glorify You.' (v1) and O Father, Glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.'(v5) which explains why in Revelation Jesus is the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last.
In the Old Testament Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart deliberately, raising Him up so He could demonstrate His power and that His name would be declared in all the earth (See Ex 9:16). The Chaldean monarch Nebuchadnezzar was reduced to eating grass like an ox, a medical condition now referred to as 'Boanthrophy' when he declared that He had established Babylon by His great power and honour. At the end of the seven years Nebuchadnezzar emerged glorifying the true God who has an everlasting dominion. (see Dan 4:28-37)
Throughout all these instances the name of Yahweh is to be praised from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same so that He may be glorified.
Finally Jeremiah was inspired by the Holy Spirit and declared...
Thus says the Lord:
'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
but let him who glories glory in this
That He understands and knows Me
That I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness,
judgement and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight says the Lord.'
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Amen! |
