“Has God Changed His Mind?”
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." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
(Gen 1:26-28 NKJV)
Introduction: There has been a strong emphasis in the church for many years that heaven is our true home. We sing about it constantly and preach about it frequently. But is that really the case?
It is certainly true that this world system of government and lifestyle is not our home. This world in its present condition is not our home. The world as it now exists is a horrible perversion of what God had in mind. But the world as God meant it to be is and will be our home.
There are three scriptures that we need to be examine in this matter.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
(Rev 21:1 NKJV)
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
(2Pe 3:13 NKJV)
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
(Rev 21:2-3 NKJV)
As we pursue understanding of these passages we need to ask ourselves some questions:
1. What Did God Have In Mind When He Created The World And All That Is In It? And,
2. Has He Changed His Mind About His Original Plan?
What Did God Have In Mind When He Created The World And All That Is In It?
It is extremely important that we answer this question because it will define how we view ourselves and our connection to the Father’s plans.
Let’s examine the prayer Christ taught His disciples to pray to find a clue to answering this question.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That is the very first thing on the list. That tells me it is priority number one and it also tells me something about God’s purposes in creation.
Surely we have figured out by now that God always does things on a grand scale. His vision takes in eternity. When He sets something in motion it is with eternity in mind. The earth, the universe, mankind, all of it is done from an eternal perspective.
Mankind was destined for ruler ship. Dr. Myles Munroe believes that this desire for dominion is the driving force behind man’s search for meaning.
All of us, essentially, are restless at the very core of our being. That is because each of us has a built-in drive to rule and dominate, to exercise control over our circumstances and environment. Yet, very few of us experience this in reality. For the vast majority of us, the opposite is true: our circumstances and environment control us. Something deep inside of us yearns for mastery and fulfillment that seem to be just outside our reach, as if we were meant for a destiny different than the one we are living.
How often and in how many ways has the question been asked, “Why am I here? What is my purpose for existing?” There is only one answer to that question. It is found in God’s design for us and we will never be happy until we found out what that is.
Paul E. Billheimer wrote this:
The universe, including this planet, was created for one purpose: to provide a suitable habitation for the human race. The human race was created in the image and likeness of God for one purpose: to provide an eternal companion for His Son…The Church, then – the called-out body of redeemed humankind – turns out to be the central object, the goal, not only of mundane history but of all that God has been doing in all realms, from eternity.
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