What is the Meaning of Life? (Isaiah 43:1-13)

Series: Questions About FaithPreacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 27th July 2025Passage: Isaiah 43:1-13Sermon Summary:According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the meaning of life—or the chief end of man—is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Only God alone is everlasting, only He will truly satisfy. But what does it mean for us to glorify Him? How is this related to our enjoyment of Him?  To fully understand God’s glory, we must first understand His holiness. In Isaiah 6:3, the seraphim declare God’s holiness: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” God alone is holy, He is set apart. There is no One like Him—before Him no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Him. (Isa. 43:10b) He is the absolute source and standard of goodness. He alone is perfectly just, perfectly loving, unique in His majesty. Holy. John Piper tells us that God’s holiness is His infinite value as the “absolutely unique, morally perfect, permanent person that [He] is”. His glory is the “manifest beauty of [His] holiness.” Romans 11:36 and Isaiah 43:7 attribute all the glory to God. It tells us that we were made for God’s glory—therefore it is right for us to praise and to worship Him, to make known who He is. Some may balk at the idea that we live to praise and glorify God, as if He lives off our worship. But we must understand: even without God, we naturally search for things to praise and glorify. We find that when we do so, our expression of praise and adoration completes the experience of worship. It heightens, not takes away from it. It is right for us to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. If God is the greatest good, if we cannot understand what “good” means apart from Him—all attempts to divert this praise would be unjust deprivation. Thus, church, we implore you: sing to the Lord, make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! (Ps. 95:2) Glorify His name forever.