"What is man's chief end? Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Enjoy Him forever. (From the Westminster confession of faith shorter catechism) It honestly sounds wonderful, but something I think all believers struggle with in one form or another.  It is certainly something we should strive for as He is our end all, and without Him we cannot even exist. However, is that really part of our chief end? Is it our end all, our reason for existing? If this is man's main purpose in life, then in the end (after we die, and we are judged to either Heaven or Hell) we will accomplish this task no matter what. There are two sides of this though, from a believer’s perspective, and from a non-believers perspective.

For Believers: It could be easy to say that this is part of our main purpose. We should be enjoying Him, if for no other reason (and there are many more reasons than this alone) than He chooses to save us from death and damnation. We will also be doing this once we reach glory.

For Non-believers: We know they are glorifying God, at least indirectly in how we figure things. They are certainly not singing Him praises, or attributing good things to Him. However, at the very least when they reach Hell they will be glorifying Him by receiving the punishment that is their due and just reward. I think we can all agree though that there is very little of their enjoying God in Hell.

So then, how can part of man's chief end be to enjoy Him forever if it applies to everyone? I could accept this a bit more if it was only a Christian’s chief end, but as far as I know this was not the intention of the writers of the Westminster confession. Even still it would not sit well. Not to mention the passage the catechism uses to support this does not really speak to it in my opinion.

The verse they use to support it is Ps73:25, 26 

I have two problems with this. 1. This is basically a hymn written to the Lord, not a command, not even a wise saying, like proverbs. Now I certainly understand that it is inspired, and most certainly should be what we desire but still, a bit weak for a command. 2. This is the psalmist saying what is his heart's desire, not necessarily a direct command, and certainly far from our ultimate purpose.

I just feel that while enjoying God is something we should do, it is not part of man's chief end. Though giving God the glory certainly is. :)

Any thoughts?

And yes that is a pool of butter...

<sup>Welcome to Predestination post numero dos! This is a list of scriptures that speak directly to predestination . This is certainly not an exhaustive list, its a compilation of verses from my churches statement of faith and verses that I know. If you have a verse you think would be good to add or a question about one, feel free to let me know. After reading through these I would recommend going back and reading my first post, and this one together so that you can see the whole vision. 
 


25</sup>At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.

 Matthew 11:25-28

⁴⁴"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 

⁴⁸When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 

Acts 13:48

⁹And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;
 ¹⁰for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city."
 Acts 18:9-10

²⁸And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
 ²⁹For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
 ³⁰and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Rom 8:28-30

¹¹for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,
 ¹²it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER."
 ¹³Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."
Rom 9:11-13

 ⁷What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;
Rom 11:7

²⁷but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
 ²⁸and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
 ²⁹so that no man may boast before God.
 1 Cor 27-29

⁴just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love
 ⁵He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
 ⁶to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
 Eph 1:4-6

¹¹also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,  
Eph 1:11

⁴knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
 ⁵for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
 1 Thess 1:4-5

¹³But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.  
2 Thess 2:13

 ⁹who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 
2 Tim 1:9

 ¹⁰For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.  
2 Tim 2:10 

 ⁴But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
 ⁵He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:4-5

 ¹Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen  
1 Peter 1:1 

 ⁷It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
 ⁸All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
 Rev 13:7-8

 Jars of Clay playing

David and I, sadly my eyes are half closed...

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