“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”Ephesians 1:1-2 ESV
Reflection: how would you summarize the purpose of creation and our existence? Is it even possible?
The pursuit of “purpose” might be the biggest drive in us all. Without purpose, without a point of existence, life is by the very definition “point-less”. Now, most people have goals in life that drive them forward, like completing an education, having a career, getting married and building a family; maybe even some material things like a house, a car, a hobby, and so on. Goals are not only important for us to move forward, they are pretty essential to our existence. And interestingly, goals can be small and take a few minutes, like removing the trash, or much bigger and take years to complete, like an education. But, what about the purpose of everything? Why the universe, the earth, and why are you and I even here right now, In 2026?
Is there even some greater purpose of it all?
It certainly is daunting to start thinking about these bigger questions. However, they are by no means new. Humans have contemplated “the purpose of it all” since the beginning of time. And, the answers mostly end up as there must be something else, something much bigger that we just cannot comprehend as humans. An intelligence beyond ours, which has led us to all sorts of religions and worship of the unseen. Isn’t it so very interesting that even these days, we see that our leaders want to create a “super intelligence”. Is that to replace our Almighty God already exists? There has always been those who are not satisfied with God’s creation, with His purposes. Not Interested in the truth. Is the super intelligence a modern day version of the Tower of Babel? To create a god?
Deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote this epistle to the early followers of Christ in the city of Ephesus. A highly secular, wealthy city and society, with all sorts of pagan worship to gods. But as Paul presented the gospel of Jesus Christ, some resonated with the truth, gave up their past pursuits and became followers of Christ. A huge impact for their lives, living in such a society. And, we see Paul referring to them as “saints”, or a holy people, those who are “faithful in Christ Jesus”. And, notice also that he calls them brothers and sisters, by referring to them having the same Father, declaring over them “peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Now, what follows in these opening verses of this letter, is really a masterpiece, explaining the purpose of everything. It was relevant to the saints then, and is of course just as relevant to us today who “faithfully follow Jesus Christ”. So, I would like for us to read the whole paragraph today. To hopefully catch some of the big picture, of God’s eternal purpose for everything. Read it slowly.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV
This is so enormous, there is so much here to unpack and try to comprehend, that we can spend years studying it. And still learn more. But what I really want to encourage you to do today, is to read these verses one more time, but this time to pick out purpose, of why did God create it all? Why did He create us? Is there something here you had not thought about before? We will spend some time on this together over the next few days.
