Why did God create us?

Answer

The concise response to the question “why did God create us?” is “for His pleasure.” Revelation 4:11 states, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Colossians 1:16 reinforces this idea: “All things were created by him and for him.” Being created for God’s pleasure does not imply that humanity was designed to amuse God or provide Him with entertainment. God is a creative Being, and it brings Him joy to create. God is a personal Being, and it brings Him joy to have other beings with whom He can have a genuine relationship.

Being made in the image and likeness of God «So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. », (Genesis 1:27), human beings have the ability to know God and therefore love Him, worship Him, serve Him, and fellowship with Him. God did not create human beings because He needed them. As God, He needs nothing. In all eternity past, He felt no loneliness, so He was not seeking a “friend.” He loves us, but this does not mean He requires us. If we had never existed, God would still be God—the unchanging One «For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. », (Malachi 3:6). The I AM «And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. », (Exodus 3:14) wasNever dissatisfied with His own eternal existence. When He made the universe, He did what pleased Himself, and since God is perfect, His action was perfect. “It was very good” «And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.», (Genesis 1:31).

Also, God did not create “peers” or beings equal to Himself. Logically, He could not do so. If God were to create another being of equal power, intelligence, and perfection, then He would cease to be the one true God for the simple reason that there would be two gods—and that would be an impossibility. “The LORD is God; besides him there is no other” «Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. », (Deuteronomy 4:35). Anything that God creates must of necessity be lesser than He. The thing made can never be greater than, or as great as, the One who made it.

Recognizing the complete sovereignty and holiness of God, we are amazed that He would take man and crown him “with glory and honor” «For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, And hast crowned him with glory and honour. », (Psalm 8:5) and that He would condescend to call us “friends” (John 15:14-15). Why did God create us? God created us for His pleasure and so that we, as His creation, would have the pleasure of knowing Him.