Jonathan Edwards wrote a magnificent treatise in the mid 1700’s (published after his death) on THE END FOR WHICH GOD CREATED THE WORLD. This book sets out the heart of Christian theology if one cares to take the time to read carefully and is what is behind, underneath, and encompasses all the theology and teaching of Scripture. This book sets out, with Scripture and careful reasoning, the reason for all things and that which alone can give human beings real purpose. Either the whole of Scripture points out how the God-centeredness of God is the theme of Scripture and is the deepest meaning of Scripture, or Scripture is not God-centered. Not only that, but if we depart from the God-centeredness of God we will inevitably be involved in some forms of humanism.
In the beginning of his treatise Edwards sets out very methodically to reach his goal. His first step is to distinguish between differing types of “ends.” To the modern mind this may appear to be tedious and unnecessary, but Edwards shows that it is not. In fact, it is in failing to distinguish these things at this point that human beings for all of history (especially modern times) fall into humanism and idolatry. It is not just important to know that God created all things and that He created them for a purpose, it is necessary to discern why He created all things and His primary and chief purpose in creating them. It is also important and necessary to understand from Scripture, creation, and providence why God does things and His deepest reasons for doing them. If we assume that He has some temporal good for all of humanity in mind, then we will go a different direction than if we know that God has Himself and His own glory as His deepest reasons for what He has done and is doing.
While there are many ministries that focus on Genesis and creation and do so with a great amount of energy and vitality, when they avoid or miss the point of why God created anything at all they have missed the main point of it all. If the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, then this tells us something about the nature and holiness of God. If the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, then this should inform us a lot about the reason for all of creation. If missing the point of the chief end of man is wrong and leads to false theology and sinful lives, it is vital to get at the chief end of creation. If the chief end of creation is to glorify God and be part of what man does in enjoying God forever, then missing the chief end of creation is also something that will lead to false theology and sinful lives.
Well, some may argue, what does it matter what God intended in creation as long as we live moral lives? This question points us right to a vital issue. What is the nature of morality? Can a person be moral if the person does not love God? The Scripture is explicit in denying that a person can be moral and not love God. In fact, the heart of all true morality is to love God. The nature of morality demands that a person have a proper intent and motive of the heart and a proper goal for the action in order for an action to be truly moral. Getting back to what God’s intent, motive, and goal in the creation of nature and man informs us of the very heart of what true morality is. To set this out very clearly, it is true that teaching that God is the Creator of all things is important. But it is at the very least as important to set out the reason that God created. Logically speaking, if we don’t show why God created we are doing nothing more than Deism does.
The differences between a universe that evolved itself into being and one that was created to manifest the glory of God are enormous, but the differences between a universe that God just created and one that was created to manifest His glory are also enormous. In other words, it is one of the most vital points of theology to discern the reason for why God does something. Edwards starts off his treatise by pointing out the difference between a chief end (purpose or goal) and an ultimate end. When one considers the meaning or purpose (end) of life, this has enormous ramifications. What is God’s chief end for the life of each person? Does that have anything to do with my purpose and end in life? If the universe does not follow the chief end of God and was not created for a particular chief end of God, then the life of each human being is pretty much meaningless. Human beings are running around looking for meaning and purpose while their meaning and purpose has already been assigned. They are to live with their chief end being to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But if they don’t think of creation as having that same end, they will be horribly confused. If they don’t recognize the difference between chief ends and other types of ends, they can be horribly deceived. This is vital.
God Loves... Himself 
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