Spoiler Alert!: How Knowing the Ending Can Change Your Life
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”—1 Cor. 10:31
When we read fiction or watch a movie for the first time, we often don’t want to know the end of the story. What fun would there be in that?
On the contrary, when we read non-fiction, I find that introduction chapter of the book critical. It lays out the direction the book is taking as it unfolds.
Sometimes, we live our lives as if it is a work of fiction when it is really a work of non-fiction.
On one level, it is fiction in that we don’t live as if what God says is true. Eternal life in heaven is more of a wishful hope or far-off destination than a concrete reality. This can shape how we live our lives as well.
However, the Bible is not a work of fiction but of non-fiction. God outlines the plan in Story form and then shows how it unfolds to its glorious ending. And this same ending is what shows us how to live our lives in the day-to-day.
Know the Vertical End: Glorifying God
Scripture tells us that our primary relationship is a vertical one. We are made to be image bearers of God (Gen. 1:26-28), that we might exercise dominion as His stewards. In this way, we live out what He intended for us to be.
The Westminster Catechism’s first question sums this up succinctly:
Q: What is the chief and highest end of man?
A: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever.
That’s it. This is what God has created us to do. And when we make this our chief goal in life, we will be fully satisfied.
So when it comes to numbering our days, this is what I want to aim for. I want every day I live to lead to this end.
Knowing the Horizontal End: Loving Others
However, we are not meant to just live as isolated monks in cloisters, communing with God and hiding out from the rest of the world. When we glorify God, we also begin to see who we are meant to be as well in our earthly relationships.
Though there are many descriptions, I’m going to focus on three in particular:
Ambassador
If all humans were created to glorify God, it makes sense that our primary job is to tell others about Him. As we go through our days, we will bump into many people who have yet to know Christ—in our neighborhoods, workplaces, gyms. If we are parents, we have a ready-made mission field in our children!
As an ambassador, our first job is to tell others about Him. It could start with our testimony. Even if we are uncertain about how to share the gospel, we can always tell someone how God has changed our lives, like the Samaritan woman in John 4 or the blind man in John 9.
Of course, we should be well-versed in what the gospel is, so if we are rehearsing it daily, letting it convict us of sin continually, it becomes more and more personal and significant to us. It doesn’t necessarily make it easier to share, but it does give us more confidence and goes deeper than a ticket to heaven.
Priest
A priest in the Bible was not a lofty figurehead that no one could touch. No, biblical priests were intercessors—standing between God and humanity. Jesus, of course, is our great High Priest.
Though we do not hold that distinction, we still can fulfill that role. First Peter 2:9 reminds us we are part of the royal priesthood, that team of people that both brings God to others and others to God.
It is different than an ambassador in that we are not just telling others about God but we are helping them to make that connection.
Sometimes it happens as we bring them to Him in prayer and ask on their behalf to be gracious and merciful.
Sometimes it means helping them to seek His forgiveness by coming to Christ with them.
Sometimes we speak on His behalf, reminding them of truth from Scripture.
Generally, we often picture an ambassador as going out to unbelievers and priests as going out to the children of God. We live in a world with both; we have a ministry to both.
Disciple Maker
Lastly, we serve as disciple makers (Matt. 28:18-20).
Christ has already established his Kingdom, but that doesn’t mean that He is king in our lives. It takes a long time to “change masters.” Disciple makers are themselves disciples who invest their energies to help others grow into their new identity as children of God.
This doesn’t mean we must do a Bible study with everyone. But are we carefully listening and responding to others with biblical, godly wisdom? This is the “as you go” type of discipleship of Deuteronomy 6 that is so vital.
Let’s face it: this is where discipleship is most needed and (I think) most effective. There’s nothing quite like life-on-life instruction in godly living that helps us to live lives that glorify God.
Making It Real
So how do these lofty and often abstract ideas play out in our lives?
Fortunately, God’s Word is fully sufficient to not only save us from sin but to help us to live godly lives filled with good works (Titus 2:12-14).
Often, we set our days by what is pragmatic or urgent. Pay the bills to avoid overdue charges. Pick up groceries so we are ready for dinner. Get to bed on time so we have energy for the next day.
However, the Bible has different “agenda” items.
Last quarter, we looked at studying God’s Word. One thing we can do is look for the “so that” or “in order that” signals that help us to know purpose. These can help us to link action to a deeper motivation.
Some of these things include
Abiding in the vine, that we might bear fruit in keeping with the Gospel (John 15:5)
Taking time to teach others about God so that they may grow in their faith (Matt. 28:19)
Loving those who are in need so that we demonstrate our love for God (1 John 4:20, 21)
Distinguishing What is Real and Not Real
We live in a world that God did not intend for us. It is a challenge to distinguish between what is real and not real. Like Peeta in the Hunger Games trilogy, instead of being injected with tracker jacker serum, our minds have been warped by sin. We have a hard time remembering who is the true God, what are the real goals in life.
Unlike other books, not knowing this “spoiler alert” will radically change the outcome of our days. It not only changes how we read Scripture but how we understand life. It helps us distinguish what are merely shadows and what is true.
When we live with the end in mind, God is the creator, the screenwriter, the director, and the hero. This helps us to remember our dependence on Him and seek to give Him glory. He is the one in charge—I’m not.
Knowing Him helps me to know where I do fit in, what my job is. Biblical themes begin to color how I look at life. It impacts how I interpret suffering, parent my children, and make the most of the season of life I’m in.
This is not something that I remember readily so taking the time to take a retreat with the Lord to remind myself really helps.
As we start this new series, I encourage you to do likewise, spending time meditating on the ultimate purpose of our lives. Here are some questions to help you reflect and evaluate:
How much would you say living for God’s glory influences your days? Rate yourself from 1 (not much) to 5 (all the time).
Make a list of the things you do every day. How might each be an opportunity to reflect God in the things I create for my family and others—like meals? How might He use me to help maintain order or restore it?
Who is in my immediate circle of care? How can I serve them as an ambassador or priest?
How might I disciple them, bringing them closer to Christ?
What are ways I can keep God’s Story in the forefront of my mind as I prepare and plan for each day?
Carve out half an hour to think through these questions and you’ll be ready for the next post.
