On the sixth day of the Creation, God was so delighted to see His finished works very pleasing to His own eyes. Everything was perfect including Adam and Eve. God was determined from the very beginning to let man rule over all the other living creatures. God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
It is unbelievable, yet undeniably true, that man’s intended destiny was to be ruler over all living creatures on earth. Man was well provided, perfect in shape and immortal. What was only required of man to remain in this glorious state was his full and unquestionable obedience to God. But as the story goes, man failed miserably. Lured by temptations and easily deceived, man turned his back on God falling into Satan’s snare.
Man’s image of God was destroyed, cursed to suffer the dismal consequence of disobedience. Separated from God, man was destined to die in the lake of fire and burning sulfur. Guilt-stricken, man realized his hopelessness in regaining his original state of joy and peace in the presence of God. Deep inside of him he knows that no amount of human effort and wisdom can reinstate him back to the days of glory before his fall. The more he struggles to become good and better the more he exposes himself as vain, self-righteous, self-seeking, arrogant, proud and religious without cause.
Apostle Paul vehemently cried out, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans. 7:24). For EVERYONE has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. EVERYONE is bound in hell, therefore there is absolutely no man, in any shape of form is able to rescue man from eternal damnation. According to John MacArthur, God had two options: either let man die to pay for their own sins, or allow a substitute to take the punishment and die in man’s place. God chose the latter.
God sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross in order to receive the punishment that should have been ours (Isa. 53:5). To remove the curse that was laid upon us, the Apostle Paul revealed to us the redemptive work of Christ in Galatians 3:13-14 saying, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” While the Apostle Peter said, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” According to Romans 5:8, for the Son of God to be able to do His redemptive work, He had to come as a man and die for our sins. “ So that whoever believes in Him will no longer be condemned (John 3:16)” but “will be marked in Him with a zeal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession (Eph. 1;13-14).”
After all this, even to this day, man still has trouble finding the greatest love of all. We are the reason for His death. His undying love for us drove Him to the cross. Is that not enough? God did not stop loving us after the fall of man. God was determined from the very beginning of Creation to restore His kingdom on earth under the dominion of man empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit whose ministry is to transform us into the likeness of the Son of God day by day and from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18)
Jesus has already done the part that only He can do to bridge the gap between man and his Creator. By His death on the cross, He has given us the freedom to choose today. Now it is our time to decide. Only two options to make: to refuse or to receive God’s calling. To refuse is to continue living a life apart from God’s control and satiate the demands of the flesh. To receive, on the other hand, is to know that only through Jesus, not through your good works, can reconcile you to God. Thereafter, through the fruits of the Holy Spirit, allow Him to take control and guide your every step in restoring His original blueprint of your life, hence changing your destiny.
The clarion call in Ephesians 5:14b-17 is now audibly ringing in all four corners of the world which says, “‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.”
To make your choice is to do it now, not tomorrow. Examine your past. Surely, whatever that was done apart from the cause of the sacrificial death of the Son of God will end up futile and will never last no matter how great was the harvest of your own endeavors. Everything will end in vain. But the Word of God will last forever. Look forward with great anticipation of finding and living the purpose of God in your life. Everyday is a new beginning to live your life worth living and full of meaning for only what was done for Christ will last. You can make your future truly great and bigger if it contributes to the restoration of the destroyed blueprint of God’s creation.
Your life tomorrow will reveal the choice you’ve made today.