Lesson 1

The one thing that has always existed is God (Psalm 90:2; Deuteronomy 33:27). That means God used to exist alone in His heaven—without people, planets, or even angels. Then, at some point in His existence, God determined to create other things. Colossians 1:16 tells us that by Him—Jesus—“all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.”

For this lesson, take your mind back to the beginning of time. Imagine God alone for eternity. Imagine the moment He decided to create, and wonder what motivated Him. We must understand why He made us, because it explains our purpose for existing. And if we understand our purpose, the direction for our lives becomes clear.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Have you ever wondered why, after living an eternity without man, God decided to create us?

According to the Bible, why did God create us? First: to be glorified. Many Bible verses describe God’s desire to be glorified. Read and think through 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 1:3–17; and 1 Peter 4:11.

Jonathan Edwards defined glory as “the emanation of that fullness of God that is from eternity in God… A shining forth.” Creating the universe, along with mankind, was a way for God to shine Himself forth. Think about how creation helps God accomplish this. How could He express His mercy without creation? His love? His justice? His creative power?

Second: to have a family. Many Bible verses describe God’s desire to have a family. First John 4:8, 16 tells us that God is love—and people who have that nature love as He loves. Second Corinthians 6:16–18 shows God’s heart: “I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.”

What purpose did God create us to fulfill? How do we fulfill it? Read Hebrews 1:1–3—how does Jesus glorify His Father? Can you think of anything else the Bible says about why God created us?