God's Plan For Genuine Human Life

Scripture: Psalms 1 and Genesis 1:26-28

Theme: God's Plan for Genuine Human Life

INTRO:

Good morning and God's richest blessings!

What a wonderful Lord's day! What a great time to live and experience the joy of God's Love, Mercy and Holy Spirit in our worship and in our lives. What a great day to Praise the LORD!

Let's turn to Genesis chapter one, where we discover this incredible story of God creating everything! We read how God shaped the heavens and the earth, and most particularly, we read the story of how God created humans in his own image and entrusted them with the rest of His creation:

Then God said, "Let us make Human in our own image, according to our likeness; and let Human reign over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created Human in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and bring it into order; and reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and over every living creature that goes on the ground." (Genesis 1:26-28 - N. T. Wright Translation)

Humans were created to be fruitful, to multiply and fill this earth with people made in God's image. We were created to be rulers and stewards of all creation on earth. We were given the power and authority to do bring everything around us into God's order. We were created to partner with God on bringing His creation to genuine fulfillment.

Genesis reveals to us that creation is an ongoing project of God. Genesis 1 and 2 tell us:

1. God creates everything

2. He rests and creates the Sabbath

3. Then God initiates a covenant partnership of creation with Adam and Eve.

It was God's plan for humans to be a vital part of earth's continual creation. While initial creation was completed the Earth project was not complete. Otherwise, we would read where God filled the whole earth with humans, named everything and put everything in order. But that is not what we read, instead, we read about this amazing opportunity given to us humans.

God intended for humans; this strange creature that is made up of both common dirt/earth and the divine breath of God, to be the means by which His creation on earth, would find genuine fulfillment. Take a moment and allow that to sink in your mind and heart. Let me iterate that one more time : God intended for humans; this strange creature that is made up of both common dirt/earth and the divine breath of God, to be the means by which His creation on earth, would find genuine fulfillment.

The garden, and all the living plants, animals and other creatures, each were designed to find their fulfillment, their true essence, through the leadership and stewardship of humans. God placed the very first humans, Adam and Eve, as rulers and overseers of the earth project. a. They were to fulfill God's plan for His Earth.

+They were to care for the Garden and expanded to include all of the earth.

+ They were to produce children and fill the earth with God's people, made in His divine image.

+ Adam and Eve were to bring order and stability to God's earth.

In order to do this, Adam and Eve and their prodigies would need to keep in tune with God.

Everything was in order, creation was beautiful and mankind was pure, obedient and innocent. All that was needed now was the passage of time for man to fulfill his mission for God. All was needed was some time when all the earth would be a true Garden of Eden. All the necessary ingredients were in place, now all that was needed was the passage of time.

However, we all know that did perfect plan did not happen. Genesis 3 sadly shares the story of Adam and Eve's selfish rebellion and rejection of God's Rule over their life and creation. God's perfect plan was tossed away for some false promises from that liar the Devil. They choose instead to listen to hiss of that snake called the Devil and brought into God's perfect creation, sin, death and the grave. They sold their birthright for a bowl of sorrow, pain and suffering. And humans have been eating out of that bowl ever since.

Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden. Their rebellion changed them, who they were and how they interacted with one another and the earth. They changed the earth but not for the better. Our earth bears the marks and scars of how humans have browbeat God's planet and its inhabitants. Our planet suffers today from man's misuse of God's water, plants and animals. Our society suffers from man's tyranny and suffers from the sins of hatred, greed and selfishness to name just a few. While God intended for earth to become a Garden of Eden, by listening to the Devil, man created a Hell on earth.