Man's Great End

Written by Aaron Fullan

Now every once in awhile, I will be unashamedly borrowing content to feature on my blog. Today happens to be one of those days. There is just far too much good material out there for me to ignore on account of a desire to create all original content. :)

If you haven't heard of a book called The Valley of Vision yet, you need to drop what you're doing (unless whatever you're holding is breakable, of course...), go to Amazon.com, and order one of those $.01 "practically new" copies as soon as possible. It is phenomenal. 

What is it, you ask? It's a collection of beautiful, anonymous prayers penned by the Puritans of long ago. People just don't write like this anymore! There is nothing stereotypical or cliche within the pages...just raw, honest conversations with our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

I'd like to share an excerpt with you now, entitled Man's Great End:

Lord of all being,
There is one thing that deserves my greatest care,
                                 that calls forth my ardent desires,
That is, that I may answer the great end for which I am made -
    to glorify thee who hast given me being,
    and to do all the good I can for my fellow men;
Verily, life is not worth having 
     if it be not improved for this noble purpose.
Yet, Lord, who little is this the thought of mankind!
Most men seem to live for themselves, 
     without much or any regard for they glory,
     or for the good of others;
They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue
     the riches, honours, pleasures of this life, 
     as if they supposed that wealth, greatness, merriment, 
     could make their immortal souls happy;
But, alas, what false delusive dreams are these!
And how miserable ere long will those be that sleep in them,
     for all our happiness consists in loving thee, 
     and being holy as thou art holy.
O may I never fall into the tempers and vanities, 
     the sensuality and folly of the present world!
It is a place of inexpressible sorrow, a vast empty nothingness;
Time is a moment, a vapour,
     and all its enjoyments are empty bubbles,
     fleeting blasts of wind,
     from which nothing satisfactory can be derived;
Give me grace always to keep in covenant with thee, 
     and to reject as delusion a great name here or hereafter,
     together with all sinful pleasures or profits.
Help me to know continually
     that there can be no true happiness,
     no fulfilling of thy purpose for me,
     apart from a life lived in and for the Son of thy love."

Let us be about our greatest end: To glorify God and worship Him forever.
And what a glorious end that is. :)

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