Enjoying God

Season 3 Episode 1 -- Have you ever heard the following statement?  "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."  What exactly does "enjoying God" mean?  What does it look like?  I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me to Bible passages and biblical principles that offered insights into the answers.  Listen and find out what I learned!

"Reflect on This" is a once-a-week, short devotional podcast, where I share what I am learning about following Jesus, through applying eternal biblical principles to life, in practical ways.  Not religion, but RELATIONSHIP - with Jesus and with others!
 
If you like the podcast, please tell your friends and family about it, and subscribe/follow it, because it helps others to find the podcast more easily (because having more followers raises the podcast higher in search results).
 
Resources that inspired some episodes:

"My Heart, Christ's Home" by Robert Munger

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis

 Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free (and low-cost) resources, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and devotionals.  It allows you to simultaneously view verses and their corresponding cross-references, lexicon entries, commentaries, and more.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Promoted by https://www.chosic.com

Transcript

The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a popular statement of faith, in the form of questions and answers.  Awhile back, I was reflecting upon the first question: 

Question 1:      What is the chief end of man?

Answer:           Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

To be honest, I understood the concept of “glorying God” a little better than “enjoying Him.”  So, I began to focus on the last phrase (“to enjoy Him forever”).  What exactly does “enjoying God” mean?  What does it look like?  

The footnotes to the phrase “enjoy Him forever” reference this passage:

Psalm 73:25-26, 28 GNB  What else do I have in heaven but you? Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?  (26)  My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need… (28)  But as for me, how wonderful to be near God, to find protection with the Sovereign LORD and to proclaim all that he has done!

This passage helped, but I wanted to understand more completely.  So I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me to Bible passages and biblical principles that offered further insights.  The following is what I began to understand as a significant part of the answer, as I began to “connect the dots” between some important biblical principles.

First, let’s remind ourselves what God has done for us through Christ’s atoning death:  

Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  (9)  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Colossians 1:13-14 NASB  For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,  (14)  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Through this free gift of salvation through faith, we can boldly enter the presence of God and enjoy fellowship with Him.

Salvation changes us forever – from sinners (unrighteous) who cannot avoid constantly sinning, to saints (righteous) who still sin but are growing more and more into the likeness of Christ (through the ongoing process of sanctification).

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB  [God] made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This verse declares that, as believers, our nature is forever changed – we actually become the righteousness of God in Christ!  

But what does this have to do with enjoying God forever?

I am beginning to understand why it is important that we use the biblically accurate description of ourselves as “saints” rather than “sinners.”  If we (as followers of Jesus) continue to call ourselves “sinners,” we are denying the amazing and wonderful work of God, and in fact we are calling the following scripture a lie:

2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP  Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Here’s the key point:  I am beginning to see that the best way to truly and consistently enjoy fellowship with God is to embrace my new identity in Christ.  It makes my heart swell with gratefulness to God for this undeserved, amazing gift to me!  As a result of this gratitude, I want to fellowship with Him more and more.  This increased desire to fellowship with God develops an increasing enjoyment of Him – both now, and also forever in heaven.  

Stated differently, my enjoyment of God grows as I learn more and more about what God says about His nature and my identity in Christ.

So, calling ourselves saints reminds us of our true identity in Christ.  It is a constant and encouraging reminder of our current situation here on earth, as well as our ultimate and eternal destination in heaven.  It is also a wonderful reminder of the One who provides the grace (the desire and the power) to progressively move toward that destination.  

What is the destination?  Standing before God in holiness and purity, with no shame or guilt, worshipping Him… and enjoying Him forever.

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”