Millions upon millions of Christians have been lulled into thinking that God’s purpose for us as His children boils down to not much more than enjoying a rewarding life here on earth while on our way to all the benefits of a heavenly reward later. And because of this mindset, it’s only natural for us to focus on what God can do for us here and now. But while this attitude neatly fits in with our human appetites and ambitions, it merely serves to derail our spiritual growth.

This clever deception of the evil one has been a blight on believers—probably down through the centuries, but certainly in this modern age of prosperity. Yet though many of our teachers attempt to make a biblical case for this philosophy, it clearly has little support when the entire context of Scripture is taken into account.         

            The Westminster Catechism says that “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.” So true, yet we need to recognize that a big part of God’s purpose also encompasses His enjoyment of man forever. As a result, He has put together a program which fosters the achievement of both goals very effectively. In what way, though, might God enjoy us as fully as we enjoy Him? By making us His very own sons and daughters. God has indeed fashioned us in the way He has to accomplish this very purpose.

Excerpted from: Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself