I originally wrote this several years ago. It’s been posted a few different times in different forms at different places.
It even ended up as the opening to this grand idea I had to write a book. Maybe one day it will make it back there, but for now it will have to live here.
I want you to think on this question – “What is creation’s purpose?”
It’s a big one, I know. One that has been a part of the human experience since the beginning of life and time.
I have spent a good portion of my life pondering this question. I end up there most often when life gets hard or I’m struck by something beautiful — a song, a sunset, or just a quiet moment when distraction finally leaves me.
When we search the scriptures for the answer to this question, I believe the answer can be summed up in one word…”Worship”.
Over the years I have felt like this word or this action has been and can be a somewhat misunderstood or confusing one. We could probably all agree that because of the culture we have grown up in (especially in the south east US AKA the Bible Belt), we associate the meaning of worship as what happens in our weekly gatherings, right? We come together on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights or whenever else. We sing some songs and listen to someone preach, maybe watch a cool video or two and pray.
Box checked.
These are all good things, they are all helpful things in our acts of worship.
But…
Worship is so much MORE than that, a good friend of mine once said that “worship is the eternal occupation of every believer.” A lot of us would probably agree that, that maybe doesn’t sound like so much fun when we think of worship in the way we’ve grown up thinking of worship.
Recently, I have been reading a book called “Adorning the Dark” by Andrew Peterson. He tells this story about Laura Story writing the chorus of Indescribable, and the realization he had after first hearing it.
“I’m pleasantly expendable. Delightfully unnecessary.
We’re both invited into this because God needs us. But because he wants us.
In the words of Laura Story, all creation’s revealing his majesty. We’re invited to join with all nature in manifold witness to his great faithfulness- and since creation is going to declare it either way, we might as well jump in with our half finished songs and join the chorus.”
–Andrew Peterson, Adorning the Dark
Delightfully unnecessary… because Yahweh doesn’t need us but wants us all the same.
“All creation’s revealing His majesty!”
I want to challenge you to think of worship as more of a natural reaction to the greatness of God. Less pious ritual, and more of natural adoration flowing from the natural order of His creation, how our very life glorifies Him!
Psalm 96:11-12 says, “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
From this not only do we see how creation worships Him but we also get the very distinct impression that it is not always this solemn, serious, contrite act. But should be a celebration! full of Joy and thanksgiving. Because the price has already been paid for our sins and with that comes freedom in worship! The kind of freedom that David displayed in 2 Samuel 16 as he danced through the streets in worship.
This freedom comes from understanding the answer to one key question… “Why?” Why do we gather? Why do we sing and why do we listen to a sermon? Is this all there is to worship?
With out understanding this we run the risk of becoming systematic, ritualistic, and even legalistic in a way that keeps us from communing with God in our times of personal and corporate worship.
In the Westminster Larger Catechism the question is posed, “What is the chief end of man?” With the following response, “To glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
When our worship becomes pious ritual rather than loving, joyous, adoration, it ceases to be worship of the one, Holy God of creation. Instead it becomes worship of ourselves. Something we do merely to reassure ourselves, make ourselves feel good, and attempt to make up for our own inadequacies and insecurities by attempting to adhere to some cultural moral code in our own strength.
BUT because of Christ our inadequacies hold no weight, our insecurities don’t define us, and our “moral code” becomes one filled with the love and grace of Jesus Christ that not only moves us to meet with Jesus in our own messes but also allows us to meet others in theirs. Our assurance is in Him and him alone, and like Psalm 107:9 tells us, we find our satisfaction and fulfillment in the Perfect power of Jesus.
This is why we worship! Because the God of all creation, whom the very natural world around us worships by its very being. Saw fit so save us by the giving of his son because of the great love he has for us.
This is why we worship, and not just on Sundays or Wednesdays but through the very act of living our lives to the glory of HIS name. Worship then becomes not only about our Sunday experience, but everything about how we live our life. How we extend grace, and how we show the love of Christ to those not only with in but also outside of our churches. All these things bring God honor and glory and are thus all acts of worship. When we live lives of natural worship our worship is healing, inviting, and unifying.
So, rejoice today that you are delightfully unnecessary and join in with the chorus of creation.
Leave a Reply