GOD'S DESIRE FOR SELF EXTENSION

"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Genesis 1:26, NKJV)

Devotion 4 of 10

IS THE PURPOSE THWARTED?

Has God's plan been thwarted? Has it been "scrapped," so to speak, because of man's fall into sin? Indeed, it has not! The plan is still in force, and will be made universally clear when the world comes to an end. In the meantime, God has given us proof of His purpose. It can be seen in His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering" (Hebrews 2:9-10). The Lord Jesus Christ is a Man--not merely A man, but THE man. That is what He is called in God's Word. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, THE MAN Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).

By saying "the man," the Spirit means the main Person, the primary Individual, the most important Man! However, more is intended than this. This verse means Jesus is the REPRESENTATIVE MAN--the One that represents every person God accepts. He stands, as it were, for every person approved by God. Jesus represents them to God, and God to them.

In association with what we are teaching here, Jesus is what the saved will become like-- glorified and perfected. He is doing what they will be doing--reigning! Mind you, those who join Him in eternity will not be His equals--they will still be under Him. However, they will be "like Him" in the world to come (1 John 3:1-3). Now, as we see Jesus, He occupies the throne, a place of authority. As a glorified Man, He is doing what God intended for humanity to do--have charge of His creation. The saved are called "joint heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:17).

This is not a distorted view of a deluded person--it is the Word of the Lord. The precise representation is found in the second chapter of the book of Hebrews. These words declare the fulfillment of God's reason for making mankind. He made them to have dominion, and ultimately they will. "It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: 'What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.' In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers" (Hebrews 2:5-11).

There is the reason why we are made in God's image--that we might participate in His eternal reign. God is extending Himself in humanity, especially in the world to come. We were not created merely to keep rules--although that is certainly done. However, keeping the rules prepares us for the real reason for our existence, "reigning with Christ" (Romans 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:12). This is why Jesus spoke of the "meek" as "inheriting the earth" (Matthew 5:5). It is why Paul spoke of those in Christ as "possessing everything" (2 Corinthians 6:10). For this reason, the Spirit declared, "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:21). God is extending Himself in His people; bringing them into His purpose--allowing them to participate in what He is doing. This is a most remarkable consideration!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to rid myself of everything that jeopardizes my participation in the promised reign with Jesus.

-- TOMORROW: SALVATION REMAKES PEOPLE AFTER GOD'S IMAGE --