GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” – Genesis 2:15

In order to appreciate the import of Purpose, it is essential to understand GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN for humanity: “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Gen.2:15). The accounts of Genesis 1 and 2 make it clear that God planned for humanity to enjoy abundance, beauty, fruitfulness, and order. God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and located His man like a king in his Palace of plenty (vv.:8-15). In this serene setting, the first couple found a rich, fertile home in which they were purposed to prosper in every sense. God provided abundance of resources and means for them to flourish. From the beginning, God perfectly provisioned the universe for humanity to thrive.

God’s intent is that we would not merely subsist, but be fruitful and enjoy abundance: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen.1:28). God has given us dominion over the natural world, and this includes the capacity to understand it to the extent of maximising its resources. A case in point was Adam’s assignment of giving names to all the animals (v.20). Despite the inroad of sin, human creativity, ingenuity, and work remain more than able to develop creation to provide abundantly for all. In partnership with the Creator, we can make creative use of the earth’s resources, grow, innovate, create new products, and improve on status-quo. There are sufficient raw materials to go around, which is in stark contrast to the perception of poverty and scarcity that seems to pervade much of post-Eden society and economics.

Even in the barrenness of the wilderness, the people of Israel still found daily provision from God, in the form of manna and water that gushed from the rock (Exo. 16 & 17). The abundance of God’s creation was displayed further on in the biblical narrative by His people, when they reached the Promised Land. Canaan flowed with all the ingredients needed to live according to God’s design: “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing…” (Deut.8:7-9).

God designed us to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion…" (Gen. 1:28). To be fruitful infers reproduction in terms of having children; but also spiritual reproduction – bearing fruit for the Lord, producing love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). God wants us to increase, grow, and be creative, reproducing individuals. His purpose for in Christ is to be His representatives, exercising dominion over and subjugating Satan. Jesus Christ gave us the authority to destroy the works of the devil (Lk.10:19; 1Jh.3:8). He has given us dominion to break the bondage of poverty, take away blindness of ignorance and unbelief; and lift the yoke of oppression (Lk.4:18). God wants us to be a blessing and to liberate others from the forces of destruction.

To a substantial extent, certain portions of humanity have cooperated with God amazingly well in the task of co-creation, through inventions, innovations and technological developments that enrich lives. To be made in God’s image includes the capacity to innovate, produce and add value. Under God, we are meant to be intelligent and faithful stewards of His creation. As His children, He wants us to manage the world, exercising dominion in righteousness. Our chief aim is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. And the original mandate to have dominion has no meaning apart from giving Glory to God. We are to be subject to Him, love Him, walk with Him, and have fellowship with Him. Micah summed these up: “…And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic. 6:8).