Living in the gap

The first charge to humanity appears in Genesis 1:28 (NIV)—

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Adam & Eve were commissioned to “make earth more like Heaven,” that is, to proactively co-labor with the Creator and “level-up” something that was already declared to be good.

Of course, the enemy went after Adam & Eve— because he knew that people have always been part of God’s purpose. He had a plan for EACH of us BEFORE He created the world, Paul says.

Notice Ephesians 2:10 (AMP)—

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

If we read the end of the story, in the book of Revelation, we find that God once again resides with HIs people— in a thoroughly redeemed Creation.

Or to say it another way, by that point, we see that Jesus has truly restored all things— just as He promised (Acts 3:21).

Right now, we live in the gap.

And though it’s easy to dwell on the space between where we are and how we want things to be, we are encouraged to participate in the ongoing story of redemption. That is, we don’t “wait and see” what God does; we engage and execute our mission in the present.

As we do this…

We need to remember how far God has brought us.

And, we need to continue stepping forward, actively pursuing His creation-intention for each of us.