Several hundred years ago, the great reformer and theologian John Calvin said that the universe is the "Theatre of God," the place where His Glory is made manifest. If that is true, it should motivate us to be "actors" worthy of it and we should devote our whole lives to make the glory of God shine above all things, in everything we do and say. Calvin devoted his life to trying to emphasize the majesty of the Word of God and the supreme dignity of the Glory of God made manifest above all in Jesus Christ. In his words:
"That [O God] to which I essentially went, and more diligently worked for, was that the glory of thy goodness and justice. . . most eminently shine, so that the power and blessings of Christ ... be completely displayed." (1)
What a great challenge we have as "actors", what a great and sublime purpose: to reflect the glory of Christ supremely in our lives, decisions, actions and so on. We live in a "state of worship" (2), a term I learned from a contemporary theologian, Eliana Gilmartin, which implies that worship is not simply singing and raising hands, but rather a lifestyle. Genuine worship flows from a grateful and humble heart, recognizing that the glory belongs to God alone and therefore it does everything in life to please Him only.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as unto the Lord and not unto men" Colossians 3:23
The purpose of the "Theatre of God," and therefore the purpose of life is the splendor of the dignity of God's glory and the full display of the greatness of Christ. God created the universe as a theater to show his glory.
"... He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:4-6
This is the ultimate statement of God's purpose in the "Theatre of God" before the creation, during the creation and throughout eternity. This is the purpose of election and holiness; the purpose of predestination and adoption. The purpose of making it all happen "through Christ" is such that there will be eternal passionate praise flowing from God's people for the "glory of his grace." We are and we exist for His glory, this should be the engine of our evangelism: that there are more worshipers in spirit and in truth giving Him the glory!
So when you get up in the morning and before going to bed at night and all day long, be in awe marveled at Christ, the outcome in the theater of God and let us live our lives in a state of worship for His Glory!
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1 - John Dillenberger, John Calvin, Selections from his Writings, p. 110
2 - Eliana Gilmartin, Do you worship or live in a state of worship?
Check out for the spanish version of this post: "El Teatro de Dios"
1 - John Dillenberger, John Calvin, Selections from his Writings, p. 110
2 - Eliana Gilmartin, Do you worship or live in a state of worship?
Check out for the spanish version of this post: "El Teatro de Dios"
