WHY DID GOD MAKE ME?

Like all questions we may ask, the Bible has a way of providing answers to many of the questions which may seem puzzling to us, if only we would consult it. In this particular instance there are three main points that are brought out from our research on this question, namely:

God made man; to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him.

Let's see if we can show this proof using the Bible as the spokesman. In the first instance we find in the first and second chapter of Genesis that Adam was given dominion over all of God's creation. Then God gave Him a mate, Eve,   because He did not want Adam to be lonely. Finally, He gave him a job to care for the garden in Eden (Gen 2:15). Adam and Eve knew God unlike anyone else who followed them. They were closer to God as none since have been. God loved them ;made them in His image and likeness, and elevated them above all His handiworks. He gave them duties and expected them to serve Him. In serving Him they were to be obedient and oversee all His creation . This was to be an unsurpassing bond, an enduring love, an eternal compact between man and God.  It could only be broken by man. We know of course that it was broken and that Adam and Eve's punishment was banishment from their idyllic paradise.

Later, God made a new contract with the nation of Israel. The Ten Commandments formed the basis of agreement between Israel and God. This became the foundation for the moral laws through which Israel was to serve God. It too was broken by man and the consequence was the captivity of the Hebrew nations (Israel and Judah) and their lands were forfeited forever.

The new contract under which Christians serve today is between God and man . It is not between God and a nation but rather between God and an individual.  We, as individuals enter into this contract when we hear, believe (understand) and obey the Word of God,-the commandments of God. Just as the punishment was severe for Adam and Eve and Israel for their disobedience so too will the punishment be for those who break (disobey) this new contract.

Insofar as our love for God is concerned we have several passages to which we can refer, even though it is quite obvious that one cannot be disobedient and claim that he loves God. The fact that God requires man's service (obedience) implies that man must love God. because we are of God and because He first loved us (Jn 4:19). Jesus also tells us: "If a man loves Me he will keep My commandments ." (Jn 14:15). In Romans 13:10, Paul writes:  "Love is the fulfillment of the law."   Finally, we have the direct command: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God." (Mark 12:30) There is, therefore, no question that we are to serve God through obedience to His commandments. In response to the lawyer, who sought to test Him, Jesus said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." (Mat. 22:37,38).

So it is that the duty of man is to know God, to understand what he expects of us:  to serve Him through obedience to His laws and to love Him above all other things and all other gods. If we serve Him well then we have His promise that we will be rewarded. On the other hand, if we do not serve Him well ,we have His word that we will be punished according to our transgressions.