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The destiny of the human creation is to live in God’s world, with God’s other creatures, on God’s terms!

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Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. -Genesis 2:1-4

 

In his thought-provoking book, The Lost World of Adam and Eve, John Walton suggests the original readers of the Genesis creation narrative would have understood God ‘resting’ from his creative act by ‘entering’ his creation. It’s as if God builds a temple when he creates his universe, and then enters it to rule and reign. In Genesis 2, Adam and Eve awakened to be a part of God’s universe after God has already entered and rested there. When God breathed life into Adam’s lungs, he invited Adam to inhabit the same sacred space. That’s why it’s so devastating when Adam and Eve sin and hide from God – it’s an anti-creation act!

Later, God is depicted walking through the garden and calling out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). He finds Adam and Eve alienating themselves from the very purpose they were created – to walk with him. When sin enters the story, the ideal of life with God is fractured. Humanity is separated from the intimate connection with God they’re designed to have. From the time of Adam to the appearance of the Messiah, the people of Israel long for the day when this relationship would be restored. A day when people would be able to walk with God in the way God intended. A day when there would be no separation between and God and humanity. A day when the “dwelling of God would be with mankind – where they are his people and he is their God.” (Revelation 21:3).

Jesus restores the shattered destiny of humanity. He is the “new Adam” who comes and does what the “first Adam” couldn’t do – live in obedience to God. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, humanity is once again called to abide in God (John 15:4). Because of Jesus, we’re invited to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10). The destiny of the human creation is to live in God’s world, with God’s other creatures, on God’s terms! You’re designed to walk with God, and because of Jesus, you’re destined to desire and fulfill God’s desire to walk together. Today, take a walk with God. Imagine that you’re with him in The Garden. Talk with him. Listen to him. Pour out your heart to him. Hear his heart for you.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Ryan Paulson

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