One of the great things about the first question and answer of our Shorter and Larger Catechisms is that they get straight to the heart of what we were made for. One of the questions that has plagued many throughout the ages and plagued me as a young man is, "why are we here?" "What is the meaning of life?"
The Catechisms' answer is to the point: "Man's chief (and highest) end is to glorify God, and (fully) to enjoy Him forever." We were made for God. He is the one we are to serve, and He is the one in whom we are to find our true satisfaction. This makes sense. If God is greater than all and is the one who brought all things into existence, then all these things must be for Him. When we see the goodness of the world that He has made and reflect on the good gifts in our lives, it becomes all the more apparent that, with all that we are, we should be devoted to God.
But a few complications can come in here. The one common to us all is the Fall and our own sin. Because of our sin, we don't desire God and His ways. This can manifest itself in outright rebellion against God, but there is a more subtle way that this can work its way out in the members of the church. This is the danger of desiring the good gifts of God in place of God Himself. It is desiring salvation, peace, and joy as ends in themselves without reference to God. It is all too easy to have a Christianity that proclaims Christ but actually wants little to do with Him.
One question we always want to be asking ourselves is, do I truly want to know and serve Christ, or do I just want the benefits His sacrifice promises? In the sermon this Sunday morning, we'll see an example of the difference between someone who truly desires to serve Christ and someone who only serves when convenient. May it be a challenge and encouragement to seek Christ in truth.