Then
God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let
them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the
cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the
earth.” God created man in His own
image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27
God had created a beautiful and wonderful
paradise. Truly, we cannot even imagine
what the earth looked like, and how it functioned at this point. Before sin’s stain had entered the world
there was no death, nor was there catastrophe, nor destruction. The plans and the animals of both land and
sea worked together in a perfect and harmonious system. A person’s faculties could reach their end
simply seeking to imagine this wonderful world.
Yet, God’s creation still awaited its pinnacle. God intended this new and beautiful creation
to be ruled by a type of creature who bore His own image. Upon examining the wonders of the natural
world it is expected that we will be awestruck and impressed. Yet the greater miracle is the place of
humanity in that marvelous creation.
Humanity was designed to represent God in this
Creation, caring for it and looking after it through moment by moment reliance
upon Him. Humanity was created and given
this amazing domain. Humanity alone was
impressed with the very image of God – a finite reflection of His infinite
power, will and majesty. Humanity failed
to fulfill God’s desire and plan, but in His grace God provided a provision for
all of our failures. This original
mandate will finally be fulfilled when Jesus Christ sets foot again upon this
earth and rules and regulates it, at long last, with all of the wisdom and
power that is needed. God gave a command
for mankind’s mission upon this earth, and then provided for that mission to be
completed. All to His glory, all in the
person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ.
