Everything lasting has purpose.

 What is the purpose of God?

Dr. Donald S. Whitney, . (Since 2005, Don has been Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky)

We couldn’t know the purpose of God unless God revealed it. “Immortal, invisible, the only wise God” (1 Timothy 1:17) has graciously revealed what would otherwise be unknowable about Him.

Through what He’s created, God revealed Himself in a general way, testifying of His existence and power (see Romans 1:20). But God revealed Himself much more specifically by coming as a sinless man, Jesus (see John 1:1, 14), and by inspiring men to write His words, the Bible (see 2 Timothy 3:16).

In the Bible God reveals His overarching purpose: to glorify Himself. For instance, Psalm 19:1 says He made the heavens as a way of “telling of the glory of God.” And “whatever you do,” we’re instructed in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “do all to the glory of God.”

So is God selfish and vain? No, for while it would be sinful for sinners (like us) to promote our own glory, it would be wrong if God acted for any purpose less than His own glory. Giving preeminence to any purpose other than Himself-since all things are less than God-would make God an idolater. God can give us nothing greater than Himself in all His glory, so it’s to our advantage for God to glorify Himself above all.

We fulfill our purpose by finding our greatest satisfaction in the most glorious object in the universe-God. He offers Himself to us through the One who reveals Him, Jesus. And Jesus is revealed satisfyingly in God’s Word, the Bible.

This article appeared on the cover of the “Faith” section of the July 7, 2001 Kansas City Star.