What is the purpose of the universe? Ephesians 1:5 and 6 says, “In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace.” I believe that the purpose of the universe is the glory of God. This leads to the question, is Christ the means to this end, or is/was he the end itself? The first way to answer the question is that Christ is/was the end. Christ is the fullest manifestation of the glory of God. He ALWAYS will be. Ephesians 1:6 shows that the fullest manifestation of the glory of God is the glory of God’s grace. The fullest manifestation of the glory of God’s grace climaxes at the cross of Christ. The whole universe existed for that moment when Christ hung on the cross and declared, “It is finished.” That moment is what is and will the praise of God’s people FOREVER. We will never get past it. So yes, Christ fulfilled the end purpose of the universe. BUT, he is also the means. Something had to happen to sinful humanity in order for us to praise God. Our sins had to be forgiven, our unrighteousness had to be exchanged for the righteousness of Christ. Christ’s sacrifice became the means by which we could worship and adore Him. Therefore, by becoming the means, He became the end. By enabling us to worship Him, He Himself became the object of our worship for eternity. We will never get past the blood of Christ. That is what will be our praise forever and forever. O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!
