Enjoying God

The Westminster Shorter Catechism says that “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”  Not only are we to glorify God; we are also to enjoy him forever.  Enjoying God is not something we hear a lot about.  We hear about loving God, obeying God, following God, serving God, and fearing God.  I grew up in church and I can’t think of one time when I heard a message or Sunday school lesson on how to enjoy God.  

What comes to mind when you think about enjoying God?  Maybe you picture a more cutting-edge church with a dynamic speaker.  Maybe you think about some euphoric experience while reading the Bible or listening to praise and worship music.  Maybe you think about standing in awe in an ancient cathedral.  What if I told you that, in my experience, the best way to enjoy God is not found in any type of religious experience or discipline?  In fact, the best place is not a church, cathedral, or other religious building.  None of these activities or places are bad.  They all serve a purpose and can help us draw close to God. However, in my experience and from what I read in the Bible, the best place to enjoy God is in the world He created.

I live in Colorado and it is January as I am writing this.  If I want to enjoy God, I just need to step outside my front door, take a deep breath and experience the cold mountain air.  Nothing makes me worship God like standing on the west coast and watching the sunset over the horizon.  The greatness of the ocean and the beauty of all the son’s colors takes my breath away.  I know for my wife it is looking at the stars from Rocky Mountain National Park.  What is it for you?  Wherever you live, there is somewhere you can get close to nature.  

God has the same response to creation as we do.  Remember, we are created in his image.  Each step along the creation process, God said, “It is good.”  When you look at the Hebrew word that is translated as “good” it could also be translated as beautiful, pleasant, sweet, and precious.  God looks at creation, including you, and says it is beautiful.  It is precious to me.  

There are a million different ways that God could have heated the earth rather than using a star.  He could have left off the mountains and oceans.  He could have skipped some or all of the animals.  Why did he do it the way he did?  He created us so he knew what would bring us pleasure.  We are told in I Timothy 6:17 “. . . God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”  Everything God created, He created for your enjoyment.  

One way we enjoy God is by enjoying his creation.  It does not have to be an excursion into the wilderness.  It can be opening the windows while you drive.  It can be opening the curtains in your office and letting the sun fill your office even if it is reflecting off your computer screen.  It could be a lunchtime walk around the block or as simple as taking a moment to notice the moon or the stars when you take the trash out at night.

What is it for you?  How do you enjoy creation?  Have you ever connected the enjoyment of creation with the enjoyment of God?  Let me know in the comments and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any of my posts.