“To avoid all confusion in our inquiries concerning the end for which God created the world, a distinction should be observed between the chief end for which an agent performs any work and the ultimate end. These two phrases are not always precisely of the same signification, and though the chief end be always an ultimate end, yet every ultimate end is not always a chief end. A chief end is opposite to an inferior end; an ultimate end is opposite to a subordinate end. A subordinate end is what the agent aims at, not at all upon its own account, but wholly on the account of a further end of which it is considered as a means.” – Jonathan Edwards
The above statement shows with absolute certainty that God created the world to display and manifest His glory. We have been using the term “terminal” end to show the end or goal that nothing goes beyond and it is the reason beyond all others that something is done for. The term “instrumental” end denotes an end or goal which is used as an instrument to obtain the primary or terminal end or goal. As we reflect on this for a moment, we can know as our minds run through Scriptures and evident reason that there is no higher goal or end that God could have had but His own glory. In fact, His holiness demands that He do all out of love for His own glory.
As we reflect on that, we can know why God put us on earth. We are here for no other purpose than to be instrumental means by which God manifests and displays His own glory. If God’s terminal end is His own glory, then man is an instrumental means by which God’s terminal end is reached. The ramifications for how humans live and the meaning of life are enormous. Man is not here to be self-centered and live for himself for that is to make self the terminal end rather than God. When man does not love God with all of his being and is instead focused on himself that is to make self the terminal end and use God as an instrumental end for self.
God will not give up His glory and He will not be used by sinful creatures to fulfill their own purposes of living for themselves. That is exactly what the “health and wealth gospel” does. That position tries to say that human beings are serving God and then try to say that God is glorified as He makes them healthy and wealthy, but that is really a subterfuge for the real issue and is humanity trying to manipulate God (using Him as an instrument) and use Him for man’s own purposes. How hideous and wicked that is. But let us also look at pastors. Many use liberal teachings about the Bible to further their own careers. Still others use conservative teaching to make themselves look good. As long as a pastor has not repented of self-centeredness, it matters not whether that pastor is liberal or conservative, that pastor is using God for selfish purposes.
But what of the average person that attends church? Could it be that most of those people attend out of selfish reasons? Do they think that things will go better for them if they make the huge sacrifice of one hour a week to give lip service to God unless it is raining? Some might make a real commitment and come on Sunday nights or express a desire to teach Sunday School. But if the desires and inclinations of the soul are not out of true love for God but in reality are focused on trying to make self appear righteous or to do a work for God to obtain something from God or other humans, then we are back to trying to use God in religious circles.
But what of Reformed people and those who teach in the colleges and seminaries? Could it be that they love academics rather than God? Could it be that they love to teach and gain honors from men more than they love God? Could it be that people think they love God when in fact they just love to study about Him? Could it be that much of what goes on in the name of orthodoxy is simply a love for being orthodox rather than a love for God? Could it be that people love to be loved and one way of being made much of is to be orthodox and knowledgeable in certain circles? Ah, how deceptive the heart is. How easily the heart is led away from true love to God and is satisfied with many appearances of it.
Could it be that people want to home school, have Christian schools, and to be active in moral issues in order to do what they want and still have a religious appearance to it? Again we must begin to look at the real love of the heart. What is the real goal and terminal end that our hearts aim at? What are the things that we use as instruments to gain what we really want and desire? I would submit to you that God is the most used and abused of all instrumental ends when in fact He is to be the terminal end for all things. Not only do people serve themselves while saying they are doing things for God, they use God to serve their own ends. That is wickedness of the highest order and is indeed a mocking of God.
God Loves... Himself 
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