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Westminster Wednesday Q&A 1: The Ultimate Purpose of Man

Q&A 1: The Ultimate Purpose of Man

When we understand this truth, we begin to see that our lives have a purpose and a direction. We are not just aimlessly wandering through life, but we have a goal and a destination. We are created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

The ultimate purpose of man is to glorify and enjoy God forever. This is the chief end of man, as stated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It is a simple yet profound statement that can change the way we view our lives and the world around us.

Mr. Miyagi, the wise karate teacher from the Karate Kid movie series, was certainly on to something when he said, “Answer only important when ask the right question.” So often in life, we seek to find answers to the wrong questions. We want to know what will make us happy or we’re told to look inside ourselves for answers, but we have no idea what question to ask. The Shorter Catechism, a tool used to help understand the Christian faith, asks a simple yet profound question: What is the chief end of man? Having the right question helps us find the right answer.

The Bible teaches us that “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). This statement tells us that the ultimate purpose of man is not centered around man himself, which is often the question we ask. The ultimate purpose is to glorify and enjoy God forever. The right question is not what makes us happy, but what is the ultimate purpose of man? To glorify and enjoy God forever.

When we understand this truth, we begin to see that our lives have a purpose and a direction. We are not just aimlessly wandering through life, but we have a goal and a destination. We are created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. This is the chief end of man.

The Christian worldview is not cyclical, like a hamster running around in a ball over and over again. The Christian view of time is linear, it has a beginning and an ending. Man was not merely made to run in a ball around and around; there is an end, and therefore a purpose at the end of the line, the Glory of God and our enjoyment of Him.

About author

Thomas Rickard serves as the minister of Seven Springs Presbyterian Church in Glade Spring, VA, and as the Stated Clerk of Westminster Presbytery. He is also a professor at Graham Bible College in Bristol, VA. Thomas holds an M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. Originally from Australia, he moved to the United States to marry his beloved wife, Sarah. Together, they have four children. Thomas enjoys tackling projects, reading, and spending quality time with his family.

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