The End For Which God Created The World

The End For Which God Created the World is a short book written by Jonathan Edwards that John Piper says is the most important book that he as ever read outside of the Bible. Within this book, a certain paragraph is found that catches one of the most profound thoughts that could ever be communicated and felt in the human mind and heart.

You would do well to weigh these words carefully to see exactly what God the Son desired from God the Father for His children (see John 17:1–5 AND vv. 24–26). Let the truth found in these statements pour like pure, cool water through dry, parched lips to reach your thirsty soul.

God glorifies Himself toward the creature also in two ways: 1. By appearing to...their understanding; 2. In communicating Himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying the manifestations which He makes of Himself...God is glorified not only by His glory's being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the soul both by the understanding and the heart. God made the world that He might communicate, and the creature receive, the glory; and that it might be received both by the mind and the heart. He that testifies his idea of God's glory does not glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.

Read the last lines carefully, for from them come one of Desiring God's most profound and repeatable thoughts, that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.