Digging Deeper – Created for God
“For by him (Christ) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
CREATED FOR GOD
Look at the last two words of Colossians 1:16, “for Him.” You are created for God. God designed us for His purposes. Why were all things created for Jesus? Did he need another waterfall, an extra million stars, or a thundering herd of buffalo storming across an empty continent? No, the purpose of Creation is to point to Jesus. All of it, in its created glory, is a testimony to the power, the wonder, and the incredible beauty of our Savior.
Pastor and Theologian John Piper said, “Our salvation is for God’s sake. He created us to display his glory.” First Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) says: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Our life purpose is not ultimately for us but for God. The problem is that we are all fundamentally bent toward seeking our glory. But here’s the problem: we should seek the glory of the One who is most glorious, in whom is the most joy and who is most worthy, and we are not Him. We are a far cry from Him. The Bible makes it clear that we should do all things to the glory of God because HE is all of these things and more. The bottom line for today is that we should live to make much of God and not ourselves.
During the 1920s, a running back for Notre Dame kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings of his highlights and achievements on the football field. He was particularly obnoxious about how great a football player he was and his ability to get free and score. One Monday morning, after a particularly good game, he bragged about how great he was. During the first play of practice, the team lined up to run a play. When the ball was snapped, the offensive line, which typically blocked for him, stood aside and let the defense in. The defense buried him for a loss. His blockers shouted, “They can’t do that! Show them your clippings!” That self-centered player may be why Notre Dame football players don’t have names on the back of their jerseys to this day. The idea is that no player plays for himself but rather for the good and success of the team. It’s not about the player’s name on the back of the jersey but the team’s name on the front.
In the same way, God did not create us to lead self-centered lives that are all about us. That is not why He created us. He created us to make much of His name and to fulfill His purposes.
Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton. He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.
