“Let us make man in our image…and let them rule…over all the earth.”  (Gen 1:26)  It’s a breathtaking statement found in the opening verses of our Bible.  Singling out these few key phrases makes the mammoth implications of the statement that much more vivid.  All the earth?  How could Adam and Eve and their progeny possibly rule over the whole thing?  Somehow we tend to think of these words as an invitation to rule over creation rather than a commission to do so.  Then when we come to the phrase “subdue the earth” a couple of verses later, our dull ears often hear it as a motivational speech rather than a prophetic decree by him who orders all of history.

Human beings are called to rule over this world.  Some people consider this to be the height of evolutionary arrogance.  Some relegate it to the stuff of fairy tales.  Some think it noble but unattainable.  Others deem it totally irrelevant.  But God considered it to be the most valuable communication he could bring to his new image bearers.  He spoke these words over them not in the fashion of some grand speech such as you would hear at a theme park, but as an authoritative declaration of his purpose and intention over creation.  “Human beings will rule this world!”  

We can see the evidence of this decree all around us.  Cities, governments, nations, tribes—human history is full of examples of those who have ruled well and those who have ruled poorly.  But how often do we think of our life circumstances as being part of this grand design?  The concept of ruling over the whole earth is so big we can’t really conceive of it.  Nevertheless, since God has decreed it to be so, one might anticipate that every aspect of life is shaped and intended toward that end.  Hmmm.  (That’s today’s English for Selah.)  God is seeing to it that this world is in fact ruled over and subdued by human beings—progressively and according to his own timeline; and at the same time he’s seeing to it that there are human beings fit to the task and able to perform it according to his divine intentions.

This all gives us a bit different perspective when we encounter life’s challenges.  God may be using us to bring rule, to bring government and order into circumstances or environments where it is needed.  Schools, offices, jobsites, hospitals, homes, stores, restaurants, etc.—all of these need good order to thrive and fill their proper place in society.  Whatever our job may be, it is fulfilling in some small measure that same word spoken in Genesis 1 to rule and subdue the earth—anyone who’s not on the couch all day is involved with shaping this world.  Sometimes we wince at the obstacles we face, but that is really just part of the process.  In fact, it points back to Genesis 3 where God declared that because of the fall into sin, productivity (forward progress) would now come with sweat and toil and pain.  It is not that there would be no productivity, or no more rule over the earth—only that the process would now be marked by difficulty, resistance, and pain.  We can truly say, “God said it would be like this.” 

What is striking about the observations so far is that they are the common lot of all human beings.  The commissioning words were to Adam and Eve who represent the entire human race, redeemed and unrepentant alike.  But there is one more truth that we do well to observe before leaving the subject:  For the redeemed it is not only the world that is being changed as we labor in this life, it is also we ourselves.  Romans 8:28-29 tells us that God uses all things for our good, to conform us to the image of Christ.  Hebrews 12 tells us that he disciplines us faithfully as sons—and Deuteronomy 8:1-10 provides a striking example of God using circumstances to do just that.  Peter urges us repeatedly to persevere through trials for the perfecting of our character.  The call to rule may be common to all human beings, but the confidence that any resistance that we face will only serve to mold us in righteousness is a biblical hope reserved only for the children of God.  Those whom the Lord loves he disciplines (Heb 12:6). 

What assurance and hope we have when beleaguered by life’s trials!  First, whatever the odds against us, God is using us to change and transform this world, to rule and subdue it, fulfilling his divine decree.  Second, for all who name the name of Christ, no matter what challenges arise, they can serve only to conform us all the more perfectly to the image of the Son.  With Paul we must conclude, “in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer.” (Rom 8:37)  And so we shall, for great is he who has promised.

Ephesians 1 is an awesome, inspiring look at the work of God in human history.  This work was planned before time began and it culminates not in an event, but with a man, Jesus Christ, seated upon the glorious heavenly throne. 

Men and women throughout church history have marveled (and trembled!) at this reminder of God’s grace, his sovereignty, and the supreme Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Tender hearts through the ages have echoed Paul’s cry that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened (Eph 1:18)—that their true spiritual discernment and perception of God would be sharpened.  Rightly so.  There is nothing so important in this life or the one to come as our knowledge of God. 

In all the known universe and beyond, in the physical realm and the realm of the angels and demons, whether in the past, present or future, there is only one thing constant, ever-living and unchanging—and that is God himself.  In our day, some people wonder whether there are absolutes in some abstract or philosophical sense.  The life-transforming truth is that there is an absolute and it is not a truth or an ‘ism’ but it is a person.  An all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, completely holy, triune GOD.  This is the God of whom Scripture testifies. 

Ultimately, all of our creeds, laws, principles, and practices must find their root in the nature of God himself—or they have no root at all.  When Moses spoke to Israel, the basis of the commandments was made evident:  “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”  (Lev 19:2)  Notice that the issue isn’t being holy because it is good, or noble, or right.  It is being holy because that is the nature of God.  The law has its root in the very nature of God.

When we really understand this truth it will likely cause us to tremble before God.  This is a Biblical sentiment called “the fear of the Lord,” and we could all use more of it.  When we realize we’ve not been bending some arbitrary rule like the speed limit, but we’ve been actively opposing the very nature of God, we do well to tremble.  No one can successfully oppose God forever.  However, there can also be an incredible sense of peace that comes from this understanding.  Truth is not arbitrary.  Right and wrong is not arbitrary.  Social forces may change, popular ideas may change, rulers may come and go, but God remains.  And as he remains unchanging, so do his word, his purposes, his promises, his laws, his decrees, and his grace.  There is incredible security in that truth.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that God will once again shake everything that can be shaken, so that only that which cannot be shaken may remain (12:26-27).  We might observe quite simply that it is those things that are rooted in God himself that will not be shaken.  Is our world crumbling around us?  If it seems so then perhaps that world that we have built is rooted in something other than God, and it is being shaken.  Perhaps the shaking is the answer to our deepest need—the need to apprehend God as the only genuine stability we have.  Perhaps we will find our faith renewed when it is we who are shaking—trembling in awe of this magnificent God who has the power to shake the heavens and the earth.

In an easily overlooked but profound statement in Eph 1:10, Paul refers to the fullness of the times, “that is, the summing up of all things in Christ.”  In other words, the culmination of all of history and the created order comes when all things are summed up in Christ.  1 Cor 15:28 goes further with the statement that “…then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.”  What God began for the praise of his glory (Eph 1:6, 12 & 14) will all be summed up in Christ, who will present it all back to the Father so that God is all in all.

There’s not much room in that summary for human pride and arrogance.  But there is this one man in whom all history culminates, this one human being who is seated upon the eternal throne, this one man who is the great I AM.  Paul had it exactly right.  May the eyes of our heart be enlightened in the knowledge of him.