Everything for His Glory

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36 ESV)

“Everything to Him” Means Everything Matters

Everything is part of the everything that is from God, the everything that is through God, the everything that is for God. It means everything in this creation has a reason and purpose.

It means our lives are not meaningless. It means our families and our stories have enduring purpose. It means power and injustice and suffering don’t have the final word. It means in Christ not even death has the final say.

It means that everything that is and everything that happens fits the larger purpose of God. Even our suffering works together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Everything to him means that Christian relationships go on forever. Think of that. All to him means every Christian friendship, every Christian family relationship, every Christian marital relationship is a relationship that lasts forever!

I will be friends with my wife Jennifer forever and ever in a friendship that is even better and closer than the best earthly marriage. My two girls—I can’t tell you how precious they are to me and how deeply I long for them to know Christ as their Savior. All to him opens the door to me knowing them and loving them and playing with them and talking with them forever.

This week I took Kiralee to a Christmas party thing as a daddy/daughter date (see picture below).

I told her on the way to the event that we were running late and by the time we get there, the only food that will be left will be vegetables. On the way home I said, “What was your favorite part? The food?” No. “The candy cane you’re sucking on right now?” No. “What was your favorite part?” The hand holding.

I want to hold her hand forever. Madeline too. Mommy too.

What basis do I have for any hope of my life mattering one second after I am dead? Why should I think my life this week makes any difference in the scale of eternity? “To him are all things.”

I’m a thing! I’m an infinitesimally small thing in the universe. Yet I was created by God. In Christ, every aspect of my life is through him and to him.

Christian, your life matters forever. Your service to God matters forever. Your quiet and behind-the-scenes obedience matters forever. After you’re dead and nobody remembers your name or anything you did, God does and will forever and ever. Everything matters because everything is for his glory.

Oh, what a difference salvation makes! Oh, what a difference from Romans 1 to Romans 11. Who makes the difference? God through his son Jesus for all who trust in him as Savior and Lord. By faith in Jesus, God declares us righteous and completely changes the worship direction of our lives.

Is your life in Romans 11 or Romans 1? Do you still worship created things or the Creator? Are you still trying to find meaning in life without God or have you jumped into the river that flows to the ocean of God’s glory?

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

© 2019 by Steve DeWitt. You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author, (2) any modifications are clearly marked, (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction, (4) you include Bethel’s website address (www.bethelweb.org) on the copied resource.

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