25-Aug-2024 – Do you know your purpose and privilege?
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:10
This verse encapsulates the purpose of our calling and gathering in the Lord Jesus Christ. God created us in Christ for good works. This means that the purpose of our salvation in Jesus Christ is to engage in these good works. But what kind of good works? They are those which God has already ordained, and we are called to walk in them. Reflecting on Genesis and the creation account, we see that everything God made was good.
And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. -Genesis 1:31
In the same book of Genesis, we also see God’s purpose in creating humans:
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. -Genesis 1:27-28
Here, we first see that humans were created in the image of God. But what does it mean to bear the image of God? Is it about physical appearance, or is it about character? The same verse gives us a hint. God commands humans to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, subdue it, and have dominion over all living things.
In the beginning, God was there, and later, He created the host of heaven and earth. While doing so, He was successful and perfect in all His works. To be fruitful means to produce helpful and productive results. In one sense, God wanted humans to bring forth future generations. In another sense, whatever humans undertake should yield helpful and productive outcomes for God’s creation on earth.
The next command is to replenish. The original Hebrew word used here is “malah,” meaning to fill and to be satisfied. God commanded humans to replenish the earth, indicating that He wanted the earth to be filled to its capacity as He had ordained.
Then comes the command to subdue the earth. God created humans to bring the things of the earth under their authority. This was the original intended purpose of humans’ creation. There is no other creature like humans on this earth.
Finally, God commanded humans to have dominion, meaning to rule and govern. God intended for humans to rule the earth and all that is in it. When we put all these elements together, we see that God wanted humans to bear His image, or represent Him, on this earth. He wanted humans to fill the earth so that it would reflect His glory, subdue it so that everything would follow His divine order, and have dominion so that His authority would be established on the earth.
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. -John 14:30
In this verse, Satan is referred to as the prince of this world, signifying that the current authority over the earth has been usurped by him. His governance prevails, filling the earth with sin and corruption. Satan desires to be the image of God on this earth, perverting the true nature of God in this world.
However, returning to Ephesians 2:10, we are God’s workmanship, created to counter Satan’s deceit. We are recreated in Christ Jesus to regain the authority that was originally intended for us. If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old things have passed away, which means the old bondages of Satan are gone, and now we are under the lordship of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. -Mark 16:17
Today, our prayer is that God will enable us to understand the works we are called to and have been reborn in Christ to accomplish. Our prayer is that He will teach us the tactics of spiritual warfare, enabling us to reclaim lost territory and fill the earth with God’s glory. Our prayer is that we align ourselves with our Captain, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Dear loving Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and grace. Thank You for teaching us today about our calling and purpose. We often live in fear and self-doubt when we see the power of Satan. But today, You have reminded us of our original calling and how You restored that responsibility and privilege through Jesus Christ. Help us to stand strong and fight valiantly under the leadership of our Lord. I pray in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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