I have a friend who believes that “buffet” stands for “big ugly fat folks eating together.” While this may not be a universal truth, it certainly seems to apply in my case. A buffet does not always provide the healthiest eating environment.

A healthy meal has structure and order. It is designed, from the first course to the last, to balance taste and health. This is in stark contrast to the “grab and go” mentality of a buffet. So, as we embark on this study of the foundations of our faith, let’s set this study out like a fine meal, with a divine design in place.

This first course whets our spiritual taste buds. It comes in as a dual appetizer. First, it answers this primary question, “Why are we here?” Whether it be the founding fathers of the faith, the Westminster Confession, or Spurgeon, they all agree that the chief end of man is to glorify God. Scripture makes this truth abundantly clear. Psalms 86:9 tells us that all nations were made to worship the Lord. First Corinthians 10:31 shows us that everything we do should be with a thought of glorifying God. Revelation 4:11 seems to communicate this truth most succinctly, “Thou are worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

The second appetizer of this course addresses the unasked question, “What is God?” Mankind has been munching on this question for many millennia. Tasty dishes from our own imagination have been created to define God. We have made god out of wood, brass, stone, and flesh. We have made God look like man and today even try to make man into God. But the tastiest dishes are those flavored with truth. Here is truth. God is Spirit (John 4:24), infinite (Job 11:7), eternal (Ps. 90:2; 1 Tim. 1:17), unchangeable (James 1:17), wisdom (Ps. 147:5), and omnipotent and omnipresent (1 Kings 8:27). There is but one God, as clearly shown in Deuteronomy 6:4. He is the living and true God of today (Jer. 10:10).

We have started our spiritual meal with key bedrocks of the faith. We have a great and mighty God, all-powerful and knowing, who is worthy of all our praise and honor. As we worship Him, we discover the depth of our purpose in this life.