Even before anything was made, the God who is Love wanted to be with us in loving relationship and we with him.  That communal purpose of Father, Son and Spirit finds fulfilment in Immanuel. He is the one that the Triune One set apart to be God with us and we with God in communion.

So Immanuel, “God with us”, is not just any event that may be called an act of God. All that God does moves towards this unique act. Not one act of God along with others, but one for the sake of which he wills and works all other things.  For Immanuel, “God with us” is what God decided to be, in his Son, before there was a creation.  Yes, God makes communion with humans the goal of his own life.

The Westminster catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man”?  The answer, “man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him for ever”.  In this post, we are rather asking what is the chief end of God?  The answer is, Immanuel, God with us and we with God within the communion of love.  The whole purpose of God is about this unique man and us in him.  For in His free decision to elect his own Son as Immanuel, God determines humans for Himself having first determined Himself for humans as human.

This “human” God fills me with wonder!  Truly, I want to glorify him and enjoy him forever!