Every great enterprise starts out with a vision of what might be. This frequently proceeds to a statement in writing that proclaims the purpose of the project—its reason for fulfillment. For examples, General Motors Corporation has a mission statement that says, "We bend metal for a profit." General Electric has had a longstanding statement of "Making better things for better living." Lastly, McDonald's claims that its products and service are "Made for you."

Perhaps the greatest undertaking of all projects was the creation. But, we seldom see stated what the vision statement was for this grandest of all achievements. Not that God has to prepare an environmental impact statement for His works; yet, He does explain lots of other actions He takes.

When we look for a terse statement in Scripture of why He created the universe, we can see a major expression in Rev. 4:11

The setting is a vision, which John saw of God's throne in heaven with crystalline splendor, electric spirits, and a beastly chorus. Twenty-four elders worshiped the everlasting God and paid homage with their golden crown and verbal appellation.

So, a major purpose of the creation was and is to show the worthiness of God. The value of this production lies in the opinion of the beholder. These character witnesses know God and the acts of His Son Jesus (Jn 17:5,24)

They can only sing out a doxology because of what they have experienced in the attributes of Jesus. They recognize the value of the price paid and their esteem for what He has done (honour). Lastly, they recognize His ability to produce mighty deeds (power).

A second purpose of the creation was to make creatures that could fellowship with Him.

Made in God's image, man has an appreciation for the Creator that none of the other creatures can attain. Wrapped up in this "appreciation" ought to be a "fear of God". This is not simply a reverential awe for a great God but possibly dread or even terror of God's presence or existence. The difference would be like watching lightning in storm clouds over the city at a safe distance, versus hearing and sensing a thunderclap crash overhead and see a blinding fireball race down a shattered tree a few feet away and feeling the electric charge all over your body as the bolt goes to ground in your quaking presence. The sudden terrifying nature of the event leaves you shaking for some time after it happens. Now let's read the review of this kind of attitude:

Another aspect of this fellowship is keeping His commandments. It is not the blind adherence to offerings and rituals but the consecrated commitment to a Godly life in which one knows God and desires to live by His principles.

So far we have looked at God's purpose for the creation as to show His worthiness and experience His fellowship with man made in His image. A third purpose might be to reveal the range of His moral attributes: holiness, love, justice, mercy, truth, providence, and grace, for examples. How would the Godhead discuss or develop themes of justice and mercy when talking to themselves since that common experience would be alien to their very being (also sin, forgiveness and imperfection). With man, however, the extent of providence, truth, and grace are part of man's everyday practice.

God's moral position is always right.

How could He do otherwise? Even Jesus recognized the Father's impeccable character, Jn. 5:30 and determined to do His will. In fact, God prefers justice to sacrifice (Pr. 21:3). And justice is expected of every person.

A second moral attribute—truth—is likewise very desirable. The whole fabric of God's law depends upon truthfulness, an accurate rendering of any situation. Even today there is compromise on the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Morris and Clark in "The Bible Has the Answer" wrote on the question, "Why did God create the universe?" They first qualify what we can know about the question suggesting that it is presumptuous for man to think he could fully understand the mind of God on this issue. (Ro. 11:34). Nevertheless, we can put the bits and pieces together from Scripture (the mind of Christ) to draw some conclusions. We use Rev. 4:11 to state that it gave God pleasure to create the universe which in turn was made to be inhabited by man (Is. 45:18). In turn, He takes pleasure in them that fear Him and those that hope in His mercy.

Only man was created in God's image to bring glory to God, whether in righteous living or willful rebellion. They conclude their brief essay by wrestling with doubters who would accuse God of selfishness, egotism, or even worse—morbid craving of love from the creature man. They conclude that God experiences pleasure from those that hope in His mercy because He is able to show grace to those who recognize their need. In the future new heavens, He will be able to demonstrate His exceeding riches of grace and kindness to reconciled man. And this is where they leave it.

This answer is sufficient in itself, but maybe there is a sequel to that understanding which Scripture also reveals. Another purpose for creating mankind is to provide a suitable bride for His Son, Jesus Christ. Recall that possibly the prominent attribute of God is His love within the Godhead but also to man. The composite body of believers will become the bride who marries the groom and dwells eternally together with the bride. Genesis tells us that it was not good for Adam to live alone, and that is the underlying principle of marriage. This principle may apply to the God-man Jesus too. Thus, the love of God that brings pleasure is in His full commitment to the bride, and the bride reciprocates. This could also be a part of this greatest love story.

Perhaps there is a purpose statement that could be made for what God has wrought—a mission statement of sorts: