Genesis 1:27-28, New Living Translation

“God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them. Then God bless them, and said, “Fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and go. Rain over the fish in the sea, the birds and the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

God created us for a purpose. To set his love upon us, to be in relationship with us. In the book of Genesis, it speaks of the Lord God coming in the evening to walk with Adam and Eve. This shows relationship. When Adam and Eve, they were not condemned, but God 1.) who provided the sacrifice for their atonement (the animal skins as closed to cover them) and 2.) the boundaries to protect them (love).

We must recognize and understand that God did not create humanity to oppress them. Genesis 1:27–28 (NLT) says, “So God created human beings in his own image. And the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God bless them, and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiplied. Fill the earth. Rain over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’” Noticed the scripture says, “Fill the earth and govern it.” That was a command for humanity. There were no restrictions on them to govern the earth, they were commanded to govern it.

I know there are individuals out there who are not ready to come to Christ because they aren’t done “having fun” yet. They look at God as an oppressive being and a joy killer. How can one get another to see the truth?

I myself was not always a believer. I lived my life the way I wanted to live it because “It’s my life.” what was I living for? If I had died in the days before becoming a believer, where would I have gone? It wasn’t until I truly found Christ that I began to know and understand His love for me. Did I go look for him? No. I went to a church on an invitation, not knowing what to expect, but knowing in my loneliest and darkest hour, I wouldn’t be alone. I would be surrounded by people. What did I find but Christ gently meeting me where I was, alone and hurting. He didn’t force Himself on me, He didn’t condemn me for my sins and feed me more shame, but like a gentleman He came and showed me that I wasn’t alone, that I was loved. With an open heart through the years, I have experienced His love for me. I have experienced joy as well as heartache. His love and His presence in my life has helped me and continues to help me overcome. On my own, I would have been filled with anger and resentment, and bitterness that would have eaten me up. I would have been oppressed by my own sin. But because I have Jesus, I have learned to forgive, to love, to trust in Him because He is the one thing in my life that never changes and never fails. I have learned that the boundaries given to me are not there to prevent me from having fun, but they are there to protect me from the pain and suffering that comes from sin. Because I have learned these things, I am free. 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT), “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who built a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come, and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Our savior is relational, and He wants to be relational with each one of us. He loves us, which is why He gave his life for us. Because we were the joy set before Him. He gives us free will. He will never force Himself on anyone but will come like a gentleman to meet you in your darkest place, in your pain, in your sheen, and your loneliness. When He meets you, He comes to make a new creation filled with His spirit. “So, we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that everyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun.” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17, NLT)

When you come to Christ, His purpose is complete, to be in relationship with you and love you. And as you continue to grow in Him, you will find out the plans He has for you, the calling on your life. “And All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.” (2 Corinthians 5:18, NLT) I pray you will find your purpose and know without a shadow of a doubt that you are loved, and you are not alone.