“How did we get here?”
“Why are we here?”
“Is there more to life than what I see?”
“Am I here for a reason, and if so, what
is the reason?
“Does what I do or how I live my life
make any difference?”
“WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?”
The first chapter of the Bible alone is
sufficient to answers all of these questions. The story of creation is the
story of the CREATOR and does more than simply refute naturalism, but gives us
our purpose. It tells our place in the universe as special creatures in a
unique and loving relationship with the God of creation.
In
the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and
empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and
the Spirit of God was hovering over
the waters. Gen 1:1-3
The opening verse shows us that God is
all powerful; He existed forever and was not created. The wording in verse 2, about His
Spirit “hovering over the waters,” is likened to the imagery of a bird that
protects and cares for its young. We can take solace in knowing that we have a
benevolent King who cares for His subjects rather than tyrannical fates that
force their whims upon humanity as slaves that use threats of pestilence and plagues
to control their subjects.
But what I’d like you to do is quickly follow me down to
verse 28. I want you to note the evangelistic
tone in this chapter that we often overlook.
First God begins by taking what
was formless and empty ( vs 2) and begins to form it and fill
it over the six days of creation.
Notice how the days are
arranged: On day one through day three there is separating and gathering as God
added form to that which was formless. On
day four through day six, God’s emphasis shifts to populating the things that
had been formed (i.e. filling that which was empty).
Beginning in verse 3 I want to
highlight the shift in tone that takes place in the transition into verse
26. THIS
IS WHERE YOU AND I COME IN
And God said, “Let there be
light” (vs 3).
And God said, “Let there be an
expanse between the waters to separate water from water” (vs 6).
And God said, “Let the land produce
vegetation” (vs 11).
And God said, “Let the water teem with
living creatures, and let birds fly above” (vs 14).
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures” (vs 24).
Now look
at verse 26!
“Then
God said, “Let us make
man in our image, in
our likeness, and let
them rule over the fish
of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all
the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (vs
26).
There is a change ―a shift that takes
place from impersonal commands such as “let the land do this” and
“Let the water do that” to the use of intimate personal pronouns:
“let us,” “our image,” “our likeness” ― this happens three times in one verse! It is as though the creation story stops and
pauses for a moment as the Creator makes a divine decree that humankind is
something totally distinct from all that came before. Nothing else in creation
is made in the image of God.
As sole image-bearers He gives us humans both
elevated privileges and purpose. In regard to privileges, in verse 28 He begins
with a blessing- it is unmerited and there was nothing we did to earn this
favor. It is a picture of grace. Next, God commands that we rule over all the
previous creatures He created. Though the word rule shows up in some translations in verses 16 and 18 in regard
to the sun and the moon, it is not the same word that is used in verse 28.. In terms of ruling over the day and night the
word is [Memshalah
= to rule] which is used to determine their boundaries in terms of
jurisdiction. But for humankind it is a different word altogether; [radah =DOMINION!]. The ruling that man and woman is supposed to do is not a
limitation of jurisdiction, but the command to subjugate and rule over. God gave humankind the place of
pre-eminence. As those created in the image of the Ruler of
the universe, God made humankind to be like Him, and like Him, He extend us rule
over His creation. Humankind has a status not shared by anything else in the
universe. We are blessed by God to enjoy His grace and blessed in the
privilege He extends to us which no other creature in the universe enjoys.
Putting it altogether:
1) Animals were not
created in the image of God. They were
created according to their kind, meaning that lizards can only produce other
lizards –in the image of lizards.
2) Humans were
created in the likeness and image of God, unlike any other created object.
3) We are unique
among God’s creation ―set apart from God’s other created works.
4) The gender of
animals is not mentioned in Genesis chapter 1, but in verse 27 (male and female),
both genders of the human race are mentioned. The implication is that the image
of God is complete in both the creation of man and woman. Together we are equal
partners as His representatives and stewards over this planet.
Here is the Biggie: “BEHIND DOOR NUMBER FIVE”
5)
When the command to “to rule over” is given (in the
dominion mandate of vs 28), it is
like the father in scripture who gives
his first-born child a blessing.
HOLD
ON TO THIS THOUGHT.
Think
about it. By the sixth day the earth has been populated: It is filled with sea
life, animals and birds, trees and plants. Why then does God need any more
creatures to be fruitful and increase in number? Why do you suppose that God
believed it was important to tell Adam and Eve to multiply and fill the earth
and to take dominion [radah]? The answer to that has to do with the
fact that this is the key to our covenant relationship with God – that explains why you are here!
Before Adam and Eve ate the
forbidden fruit, they were image bearers of God on earth, totally distinct from
any other living thing. Since God is Spirit, our image bearing must have more
to do with our spiritual nature than our physical traits. Of all living things,
we reflect the glory of God. The entire earth could be filled with animals (as
we see in the creation account), but it was only if the earth was filled with
humans – that the whole earth could be filled with the glory of God. That is why He commanded us humans to
multiply and fill the earth. The purpose behind that command was to fill the
earth with His image-bearers –
“Imago Dei”
His glory was at stake!
It is here in the very first book
of the Bible that we learn that ‘filling the earth” is much more than just having
biological offspring who share our human characteristics and DNA. Having lots
and lots of sinfully fallen children (through mere biological reproduction) after
sin entered the world does not spread the glory of God. This is why Paul writes
to the church in Rome “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(Rom 3:23). Therefore,
after the fall, God’s glory could only spread through the multiplication of
spiritual children of those who enter into a relationship with God through
faith and obedience to Him. (Pictured my Family)
The tone of evangelism fills the creation story of
being blessed by God through His grace to proclaim the greatness of God so
others might come to experience His grace and know Him (blessed and called to
be blessing).
Does
God need us to do this? NO!
The self-sufficient God of the
universe has no unmet needs in himself. He didn’t need us! He could have easily
done all this by Himself. Not only does He
bless us by allowing us to have intimate relationship with Him, the Almighty
also gives us the privilege of joining Him in spreading His glory throughout
the world as we bless others by making Him known. It’s all right there in the very
first chapter of the very first book of the Bible. God reaches down to His
special creatures in a benevolent partnership with Him in spreading His glory
into every part of globe.
This covenant idea of “being
blessed and called to be a blessing” that we see with Abraham stretches all the
way back to the Garden of Eden.
This is the High Call and PURPOSE for
which you were CREATED! –
“Missio Dei”
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