Genesis 1:26 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Since man’s fall through Adam, is that mandate still in place? Does God still want us to have dominion over the earth? Read on to find out…
Yes! Our disobedience does not nullify His will. Originally, when God made man He decreed that man should have dominion over the earth.
Psalm 8:6 – Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.
God still wants us to have dominion over the earth. Not to retreat; not to isolate; not to be silent; not to live the the Amish or monks, secluded from the world.
We are salt and light, ambassadors and witness to the world/lost:
Matthew 5:13 – Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 5:18 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
How will the lost be saved if the gospel doesn’t go forth?
2 Corinthians 10:15 – And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
God wants us to be in the world but not of it. We will suffer tribulation in the world but that’s no reason to avoid it; through Jesus we can overcome the world and be victorious!
John 16:33b – In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Romans 8:37 – Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
In doing this, walking by His faith, we can be overcome the world, be victorious, and have dominion.
Having dominion doesn’t mean ruling over others or taking their wealth; it means living the resurrected life in Jesus-
- victory over temptation
- victory over sin
- freedom from the bondage sin the world
- not falling for the lies of the world
- guarding our hearts by being emotional unmoved/unswayed by the world
- being ambassadors sharing the gospel
- walking daily in love, peace, joy, mercy, and victory!
Examples include:
- ignoring billboards/advertisements that try to convince us we need something we didn’t before we read it
- enjoying a ballgame but not getting angry when our team loses
- discerning unbiblical truths and ignoring them
- going into a bar and not drinking (or not drinking to excess if you enjoy beer)
- not telling crude/off-color jokes when others in your group are
- staying joyful when the world wants you to be sad
- staying courageous when the mainstream news wants you to be fearful
- not being pulled down into the cultural darkness and dreariness and hopelessness
So don’t fear the world; don’t believe a certain place or thing is evil (such places/things are rare); don’t avoid the world: instead walk by faith in the spirit, overcome, and shine your light in the darkness!
Matthew 9:10 – And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Romans 12:21 – Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Psalm 8:6 – Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
— 1 John 5:5