The Creation Mandate is not something we hear a lot about, but it has been around forever, literally. Yes, most followers of Jesus Christ learn about Ten Commandments and the Great Commandment. “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is also well known. “Jesus came and told his disciples,“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The Creation Mandate is often missed, yet it is in the first chapter of the Bible. [Emphasis mine] “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’” Genesis 1:26. And it is stated again in verse 28. Anything God repeats in close proximity like this is something we really need to pay attention to.
We can guess at reasons why we miss this foundational reason for our existence. Personally, my hunch is that if the enemy of our souls can keep us away from knowing our mission, we can easily become lost in far less important things. The original meaning of mandate used in this context is, when the authority of the one mandating can not be refused. So, when we lose sight of our ruling authority, we will go off the track of the original plan.
Not understanding The Creation Mandate hides our over arching mission and it also hides our God given authority as Christ followers. As image bearers of The Creator, have been given sovereign authority to run the earth.
The Ten Commandments, Great Commandment and The Great Commission are how, we fulfill the Creation Mandate.
It is The Creation Mandate that tells us who we are: the only beings in all creation that are made in the image of God, which qualifies us to rule and reign. As Christ followers we are to do so benevolently, for the good of all, according to Creator’s precepts. When we do not “do our job,” we yield to less benevolent forces. (See Genesis 3.)
Fast forward to redemption. Enter, Jesus of Nazareth. (See the Gospel of John 1ff.) Thanks to Jesus’ work on the cross, we are now in the process of taking back control of what we let go of in the garden. In this current age we can no longer live life in neutral. As Christ followers we must recover our identity. “. . . for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 As royal priests, we rule and reign, and we are the ones who go between God and people to bring them out of the darkness into His wonderful light.
Before Jesus, Kings were Kings and priests were priests. Now we are Creator’s royal priesthood. Take a few moments to let that truth sink in. Say it out loud. When we grasp this reality, we begin to hold our heads high and walk with purpose. . . loving purpose. Remember we are in the image of our Creator and He loves us. We do not have to fear like our enemy wants us to, but we can confidently lavish the love of God on those around us.
Abba, Help me to remember every morning that I am created in your image and you have delegated your authority to me so I can show others the goodness of God calling them out of darkness in to your marvelous light. Amen
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