Why do we exist? What's the point? "The chief end of man," answers the Westminster Shorter Catechism, "is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." Glorifying God and enjoying him are not two separate things but one. As John Piper puts it, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."

God is glorified not by grumpiness but by gladness. When we taste God's goodness and love, we "shout for joy" and "worship the Lord with gladness."   St. Augustine (around 400 A.D.) wrote, "It is the decided opinion of all who use their brains, that all men desire to be happy." We pursue happiness because God designed us that way, and we find true happiness only in Him. Augustine prayed, "You stimulate us to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

God told Abram, "I am your shield, your very great reward" (Genesis 15:1). Jesus said that finding him is like finding treasure (Matthew 13:44). You must believe that God is real and rewarding, or you will not be happy in him, and he will not be pleased with you. "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). God's design is that we be glad in his glory and that he be glorified in our gladness. Such God-glorifying gladness is why we exist.

PRAYER--O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you and my soul will be satisfied. Amen. (Psalm 63)