Integrity- People of God

God’s Kingdom on Earth – The Original Purpose

Until we learn what we lost in the beginning, we will never understand what was returned to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:26-27 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.” NKJV

When man fell he lost his relationship with The King and the kingdom God gave to mankind on the earth. Mankind also lost their purpose, to be the reflected image and likeness of God. God did not make man a robot, something to obey without thought or will to His every command. God made man in His image to imitate Him on the earth, to rule and to reign. He gave mankind a will, which is the ability to choose to obey and serve God or another.

Satan being a liar and a thief came and stole the authority and dominion from man by deceiving and lying to mankind.   Although Satan entered the world system deceitfully, with the permission of the serpent, God would not violate His word and mankind had to suffer the consequences of his choices. With this act of disobedience man lost dominion and authority to Satan.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are

that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to

righteousness. NKJV

God is all knowing and knew mankind would be deceived and sent Jesus to defeat Satan so that mankind can now choose to follow God. God made provisions for mankind before He laid the foundation of the world. We have heard people say if God was all-loving He would not have allowed this to happen to man. Or, if God were all-powerful He would have stopped Satan or stopped man from sinning. Truth is, God is all loving and all-powerful but above all, He is faithful to His Word. This is the reason God made provision for man before the foundation of the world to allow man to choose but to provide a way for man to be restored.

Even though God knew man would choose to disobey and die in his original state, God provided His Son as a redeemer. Jesus Christ delivered mankind from the enemy and He returned the kingdom of God to the earth. Jesus has re-established God’s original purpose for mankind and His kingdom and that is for mankind to reflect God’s love and glory on the earth.

What most people fail to realize is God did not come to save us from Satan, he is a defeated foe, but through Christ we are children of the Most High King, a new creations. The thing Satan meant to bring evil upon us, God used for our greater good and His glory. We were made the highest of God’s creation on the earth with ability to rule and reign, but God reinstate us as His children, joint-heirs with Christ. We are now not only to reflect God’s image, we are His children seated in heavenly places with Christ.

The very event that Satan used against mankind, God used to bring humanity into an even closer relationship. Mankind is a creation of God, but now after the resurrection of Christ, God has given us an opportunity to become children of the Most High King. This is a horrifying truth for Satan, because of his actions we are now adopted into the family of God. This is a truth the enemy wants to hide from the people of God. This is a kingdom truth, though man fell in the beginning, those who accept Jesus as their savior and Lord are now more like God. We are regenerated and made new through Jesus Christ our redeemer.

1 Peter 1:18-21 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or

gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious

blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained

before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through

Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and

hope is in God. NKJV

God said” let them have dominion” over the things on the earth. He did not say “let us have dominion.” God is obligated to His word and when He gave man dominion He was bound by His word. God gave dominion over the earth to mankind and all legal authority was given to humanity to choose whom to obey and serve. Mankind in the very act of obedience to Satan gave him reign and over this domain. God, in His love for mankind, provided a way to save humanity.

God’s integrity and faithfulness to His Word would not allow Him to snatch authority back from man even though man was using it to his own detriment. Many people try to rationalize and justify their actions by saying the end justifies the means. God tells us to stay true to our word even to our own hurt. Our word and integrity are more important than any possible loss we may suffer. No matter the loss, God is able to work everything for our good and His glory.

In the very act God allowing man to choose even at such a high cost showed God’s faithfulness to His word. God did not step in and alter Adam’s and Eve’s choice to rebel even though it would cost Him Jesus His only Son. God even at such a high price, the life and death of His Son, we can be sure God’s word is true and He is faithful to His word. God is not like man who will lie and renege on his word if things get too hard.

We can only imagine how it grieved God to lose the fellowship and relationship with the highest of His creations, the one He created to reflect His image. God is patient, kind and longsuffering and He knew He would provide a way for mankind to return to his original purpose but in a greater position.

It may seem like a long time since Satan tricked man, but remember with God a thousand years seems as one day. Therefore, we cannot measure God’s timing or purpose by our standard of time. In the beginning we were a creation of God but now God has transformed us into children in the family of God.

2 Peter 3:8 but beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a

thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. NKJV

Jesus was born a child in the flesh of man and Christ is the Son of God given for the restoration and reinstatement of mankind back to God. With Jesus the Christ, God returned His government to the earth. We are no longer slaves to sin and Satan. Everyone has a choice and an opportunity to return to God. Jesus came into the world legally. He was born a man having the authority given to man on the earth. He was also Christ, the Spirit of God reconciling humanity back into the right relationship with God.

Jesus paid the sin debt for mankind’s disobedience and provided a way for us to be children of God, heirs to the Kingdom of God. God’s purpose for mankind did not change. Man is to reflect and reveal God’s glory in the earth. God had given authority to mankind, so God must work his plans in collaboration with the will of man, because God is faithful to His word. God’s purpose for us has not changed and it will prevail. Jesus has returned the Kingdom, God’s government upon the earth and to those who know their God will do exploits.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be

upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there will

be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with

judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will

perform this. NKJV

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good. NKJV

Jesus came to set man back in his original position as having dominion and authority over God’s earthly kingdom and to put man back into the family of God. We are now children of the Most High King.