Created for God's Glory

“I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” — Psalm 146:2

There is a small island in the Gulf of Mexico that calls me back from time to time to enjoy the splendor of God’s creation. There on this tiny strip of land, I find respite for my soul.

There’s something magical about rising early, just before daylight, and heading for the beach, barefoot, with the high anticipation of watching God paint one of His special sunrises.

It takes about an hour for Him to unveil the full picture. The sky is His canvas; and the paint is the lavish morning colors in another glorious sunrise. They are different every day. I’m not sure how He does that—seems a sunrise is a sunrise—but not on this island. There, God paints a different one every single day!

As I walk along the beach, I marvel at the skill of a small bird (called a Skimmer) that flies just above the rolling waves skimming the water for its daily food. I always catch my breath fearful a wave will take one of the small creatures under, but it never does. It’s as though they have sensors in their wings. You see, God created them to catch their food just before daylight, skimming along just above the water line, beak in the water, snatching tiny aquatic delights for their breakfast.

I can hardly wait for evening to enjoy dinner at a quaint little restaurant that floats on the water on the opposite side of the island. I order my food, find a table next to the water, and watch as a different specie of bird dives deep in the channel for its food. Again, I find myself holding my breath, watching in anticipation for it to surface.

Another kind of bird flies near the restaurant deck, hoping someone will toss it food. This group of beggars hangs out just beyond a boundary of fishing line stretched to keep them from annoying the paying customers while the birds vie for “people food.” We’ve all been annoyed by these birds from time to time.

Still another large bird stands in the shallow water across the channel waiting for its next meal to swim by. The herons stab fish with their pointy beaks, holding it until it stops wiggling; then they toss it in the air, catching it so that it enters their open mouth head first—they swallow it whole. Each fish takes several minutes to swallow. They will eat three fish each time they feed and no more (some of us need a dose of their self control).

Enjoying these sights, I ponder the different ways God has designed these birds to feed; the way the undulating ocean waves continue to roll in, and even the sand fleas that sometimes swarm and bite the back of my legs.

I am smitten by the fact that all of these things do what God has created them to do—without question. Day after day the birds feed in their own way, the sand fleas bite, and the waves just keep rolling in. There is no question and no choice.

The heron does not decide to dive in the channel for its food, nor does the skimmer decide to stand in shallow water and stab a fish or dive in the channel for shrimp. Each of them knows the way they are designed to live—and they do it.

The sun doesn’t make the decision to shine at night, nor does the moon decide to shine during the day or not shine at all. All of God’s creation does the thing for which they were created—with one exception.

God has given humans a choice—to do what we were created to do—or not!

The LORD has said, “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:7).

We humans have the awesome privilege of choosing to glorify our Creator when we do what we are created to do. It is a daily choice to live for Christ—or live for self. Do what the Bible tells me to do—or do what I want to do. Serve others—serve self.

But we belong to Elohim, the Almighty God. We have been purchased by the precious blood of His Son, and our life is to be lived in worship of Him.

The great Bible Teacher, Kay Arthur said, “His Name is Elohim, the Almighty God, our Creator. We have been created for His glory, for His pleasure. Our life is to be lived in such a way as to reflect Him. To show the world the character of God, His love, His peace, His mercy, His gentleness. We are to live for Him, to accomplish His will. To miss this is to miss fulfillment. It is to have existed rather than to have lived.”2

The question is—do you want to live?

“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Everyday I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” — Psalm 145:1, 2; 150:6


Further Study
Philippians 2
Philippians 4:1-9
Job 38-42
Isaiah 42:5-9
Isaiah 43:1-5
Isaiah 45:2-7
Daniel 2:20-23