God is in love with…God
As I pause to keep God’s sovereignty over good, evil, suffering, and salvation, there is one truth that I have wrestled through and joyfully submitted to over the course of years now. And that is this: God above all things loves God.
John 17:5: And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
John 17:24: Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Years ago, these two verses changed the way I see everything. Growing up, I heard that I should glorify God, but I didn’t realize that when I do glorify God I am only joining God in what he has been doing for all eternity. God, for all of eternity, has been glorifying God. Quite similarly, I knew that I should love God, but I didn’t realize that when I love God I am only joining God in what he has been doing for all eternity. God, for all eternity, has been loving God.
This may sound strange, so let me introduce you to the truth that rearranged completely how I see and understand God. I arrived in Abilene, Texas, to attend college in the Fall of 1999. Within a year, I was closely connected with this church, Beltway Park Baptist Church, especially investing in the University Ministries. In the Fall of 2000, God took us on an adventure in Bible Study that has irrevocably changed who I am. About halfway through that Fall semester I ran headlong into a rock solid truth. The truth hit me much like truth hits many men and women. I was not initially knocked down. I was dazed. But then once I was knocked down, I have yet to get up off the floor. And this is the truth with which I still rejoice as I remain on the floor:
God’s chief reason for everything God does is God’s glory.
That doesn’t sound too bad, does it? But this is what I had to surrender: God’s chief reason for everything God does is not me. God’s chief reason for everything God does is not my salvation. God’s chief reason for everything God does is not the salvation of the entire world or even the salvation of the elect. God’s chief reason for everything God does is not to make me safe and special and cool and comfortable.
God’s chief reason for everything God does is God’s glory.
Once I landed on the floor, humbly submitted to this truth, it made all of the difference in the world. Questions remain. Wrestling matches continue. Doubting has not fully stopped. But one thing is for sure: joy in questions, joy in wrestling, and joy in doubting have greatly increased because I finally realized that God is supreme. And God is not only supreme in my heart, but God is supreme in God’s heart!
What follows is an extensive (but not exhaustive) list of verses that continue to convince me of the truth of the whole of Scripture:
God’s chief reason for everything God does is God’s glory.
His Creation
The reason for all the earth. Psalm 8:1.
The reason for all that God created. Psalm 148.
The reason the heavens, the earth, mountains, and the trees sing. Isaiah 44:23.
The reason for God creating all people. Genesis 1:26-27.
His People, Israel
The reason for God creating his people. Isaiah 43:6-7.
The reason God established Israel as his people. 2 Samuel 7:23.
The reason God consistently saved Israel. Psalm 106:8.
The reason God acted on behalf of Israel. Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 22.
The reason God split the sea. Isaiah 63:12.
The reason God gave the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:2-17.
The reason God commanded the Israelites to keep all the words of the law. Deuteronomy 28:58.
The reason God acted for Israel even when they profaned him. Ezekiel 36:21-23.
The reason for God working in his people. Isaiah 60:21.
The reason God protected a city for Israel. 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6.
The reason foreigners would come to Israel. 1 Kings 8:41-42.
The reason for the building of the Temple. 1 Kings 8:44.
The reason for rebuilding the Temple. Haggai 1:8.
The reason for cursing priests of Israel. Malachi 2:1-2.
The reason God promised to have mercy on the house of Israel. Ezekiel 39:25.
The reason God heard, forgave, and took action for Israel. Daniel 9:19.
The reason God did not cut off his people Israel completely. Isaiah 48:9, 11.
The reason God promised to buy his people back. Isaiah 52:3-6.
The reason God promised to restore Israel’s fortunes. Ezekiel 39:25.
The reason God restores his people. Isaiah 61:1-3.
His Work for His People
The reason God will save Gentiles by faith also. Romans 1:5.
The reason for God choosing his people. Ephesians 1:5-6.
The reason for God owning his people in Jesus. John 17:10.
The reason God will restore your soul. Psalm 23:3.
The reason God leads and guides his people. Psalm 31:3.
The reason God deals kindly with his people. Psalm 109:21.
The reason God will not abandon his people. 1 Samuel 12:22.
The reason God will pardon your sins. Psalm 25:11.
The reason God forgives your sins. 1 John 2:12.
The reason God will not remember your sins. Psalm 25:7.
The reason God helps us. Psalm 79:9.
The reason God delivers us. Psalm 79:9.
The reason God atoned for our sins. Psalm 79:9.
The reason God acts on your behalf. Jeremiah 14:7.
His Work in His People
The sum of all things. Romans 11:36.
The reason for whatever we do. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17.
The reason we have bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
The reason you should seek to do good works. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.
The reason we do good works. Matthew 5:16.
The reason we should go out (and not just stay in). 3 John 7.
The reason we should leave all. Matthew 19:29.
The reason we are servants of God. Isaiah 49:3.
The reason we should gather together. Psalm 34:3; Matthew 18:20.
The reason for giving. 2 Corinthians 8:19.
The reason God causes us to walk in righteousness. Psalm 23:3.
The reason we should bear the fruit of righteousness. Philippians 1:10-11.
The reason we should bear fruit at all. John 15:8.
The reason believers will be persecuted. Matthew 10:22.
The reason for enduring persecution. Revelation 2:3.
The reason for excellent behavior. 1 Peter 2:12.
The reason for exercising your spiritual gifts. 1 Peter 4:10-11.
The reason for unity among believers. Romans 15:5-6.
The goal of faith. Romans 4:20.
The goal of hope. Ephesians 1:12.
The reason for our enduring and persevering. Revelation 2:3.
The reason for confessing and repenting. Joshua 7:19.
The reason for calling on God. Psalm 50:15.
The reason for giving thanks. Psalm 50:23.
The reason for praying. John 14:13-14.
The beginning of our praying. Matthew 6:9.
The beginning of Jesus’ praying. John 17:1.
The reason God hears prayers from all peoples. 1 Kings 8:41-43.
His Sovereignty and His Power
The reason God conceals things. Proverbs 25:2.
The reason God raised Pharaoh to power with a hard heart. Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17
The reason God performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh. Nehemiah 9:10.
The reason God hardens hearts. Exodus 14:17.
The reason God is against some people. Ezekiel 28:22.
The reason God endures with much patience vessels of wrath. Romans 9:22-23.
The reason God destroys a city. Isaiah 25:2-3.
The reason for an earthquake and destruction in the end times. Revelation 11:13.
The reason God will judge. Revelation 14:6-7.
His First Coming
The reason angels sang at Jesus’ birth. Luke 2:14.
The reason Jesus came. John 7:18.
The reason Jesus died. John 12:27-28; John 13:31-32; John 17:1; Romans 3:25.
The reason Jesus did God’s work on earth. John 17:4-5.
The reason Jesus fulfills all of God’s promises to us. 2 Corinthians 1:20.
The reason the Holy Spirit has come. John 16:13-14.
His Second Coming
The reason Jesus will return. 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10.
The way Jesus will return. Matthew 25:31.
The way our bodies will be raised. 1 Corinthians 15:42-43.
The reason God will gather all nations together in the end. Isaiah 66:18-20.
The reason why all will eventually confess that Jesus is Lord. Philippians 2:9-11.
The reason God will give us our eternal possession in the end. Ephesians 1:14.
The reason the New Jerusalem needs no temple. Revelation 21:22.
The reason the New Jerusalem needs no light for eternity. Revelation 21:23
The reason we spend all of eternity with Jesus. John 17:24.
