The focus of this article is to make us understand the link between purpose and dominion and to really answer the question of why man was created, talking about the purpose for the creation of man and what man should do with what he has been created with in order to have dominion. I have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this article to challenge us to pay close attention to our identity, because until we know why we were created, how we were created and who created us, we would not function on the earth as we ought to. It is said that when the purpose of a thing is not known abuse is inevitable. In addition to that; if you don’t really know who is behind your purpose, it is also tantamount to abuse. Because, until you actually know who the giver of purpose is; it will be difficult for you the receiver of purpose to fulfill the purpose of the giver. So, let me begin my reference from the Scriptures, because this is where we really know where we originated from and how we should function on the earth. Genesis 1:26 says; “Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over ^[g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

 

The Scripture says; “then God said, let us make man.” The first step to discovery of purpose for every man without the exemption of anyone, is to begin by asking and answering this question; Who made you? As simple as this question may seem, a lot of people don’t know who made them, they could know about the one who made them, but they may not actually know Him. While some struggle with the truth about who made them, others think they fell from the sky, or say they are products of evolution while some others will say they belong to the category that think their creator is someone or something else. The reason why a prince will think he is ordinary is because he is not aware of whom his Father is. The reason why you think you are among the numbers is because you really don’t know who made you and why He made you. Your journey of purpose begins when you come to the realization of who God is and what He is to you. This verse says; “then God said.” Meaning that God conceived the idea for your creation and He carried it out. How did I know that? The opening statement of verse 27 confirmed it by saying “so God created man” meaning that just as He said it in verse 26, He carried it out. So, it is important that this matter is settled and builds a background into the steps we are going to be looking at.

 

But verse 27 raised another issue we cannot ignore. Verse 26 let us into the fact that God conceived the idea of making man but it didn’t stop there, He then made man. If it is settled and agreed that God created man, then how did He create man? Psalm 139:14 gave us a clearer picture, it says; “I will praise You, for ^[a]I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”  Ephesians 2:10, says; “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Did you see that? The psalmist carefully chose his words and these two words came to him by revelation, it says; “fearfully and wonderfully.” What does it mean to be fearfully made? It means to be exceedingly, exceptionally, remarkably or uncommonly made. To be wonderfully made means to be made in a way that inspires delight or admiration. So, the primary material for creating man is dust and is bound to perish except he routs and subject the flesh to or through Christ. Let me say this at this juncture; the old man is made of the dust and would die, but the man who is made in Christ carries eternity in his DNA.

 

So, while “fearfully” talks about awe leading to reverence. Wonderfully talks about love, delight and admiration. And these two words really describe the characteristic nature of God. As much as we fear Him, (godly fear), we are also endeared to Him, we love Him, we want to be in His presence. What you dread you won’t want to associate with it. So, verse 27 said; So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. The idea in the heart of God like we saw in Genesis 26 was to make man in His image and likeness. Meaning that if you want to see God, go and see man, man is the exact replica of God according to the original idea until the fall. That was why Jesus said to Phillip; Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? This was what Jesus came to model to us. man was created to wear the exact semblance of God.

 

So Hebrews 1 verse 3 began to use Jesus Christ to give us an idea of what man should look like; it says who being the brightness of His glory, lets pause here for a while, what does this mean? Does it mean that man has the capacity to glow and to shine? If God is the Father of light, then His sons should also be sons of light right? So, Jesus was not talking out of context when He said you are the light of the world. How many of us have come to terms with this reality? This is beginning to show that man; talking about you and I having a long way to go. Did the face of Stephen not shine? Was Jesus not shining on the mount of transfiguration? That talks about excellent glory. So, when you hear Jesus say I am the light of the world, we should understand it from this context. It says who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. What is makes me to understand is that If God dwells in an unapproachable light, then when we look at a disciple or a believer all that should be seen is light, and wherever they go, they shine.

 

Haven been able to establish the fact that man was created by God and that man was not created in the order of angels but that man was created after the order of God which is light. So, how does man radiate this light? And when a man is not radiating this light, what could be problem?  That was why we began by saying you must know God. Your purpose is the nature of light you carry, and until you know who made you, you won’t know why He has given you the nature of light that you carry. When you look closely at the statement God made in Genesis 1:26, after man is made in the likeness of God which is light man should have dominion. It says; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over ^[g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.  God only recognized that if man is made according to His image and likeness then man would have dominion. So, the three components of dominion among others that comes to mind in this verse are; authority, expansion, and influence.  Yet one more thing that makes these components a reality and should not be left out or taken for granted is; man’s discernment or sensitivity or awareness of His environment, and the territories that has been committed into his hands spiritually.

 

Environment here talks about the garden God has put the man. Discernment and sensitivity is key to dominion; there is no need for authority, expansion or influence if there is no sensitivity or discernment. You must be able to tell the difference between the serpent and the spirit in the serpent. Because every territory has a spirit in operation. Man must never be ignorant of the things that goes on in his environment especially territorial powers. Any man that is not sensitive and discerning is a man that will soon loose dominion. The Scripture says we should never be ignorant of the devices of the devil. One of the weapons the devil deployed to destroy the dominion of man was a sub-tool of darkness called deception. If your sensitivity is not intact be sure that it will be difficult or impossible to attain dominion.  The components of dominion I highlighted in this article rest on this matter. And these three must work in unity in order to achieve purpose.

 

So, looking at that verse, it says; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over the creeping thing that creeps on the earth. The first thing God did for man was to make the man become aware of territories. God was simply telling the man that expansion is possible, but boundaries is important. Though he may start little, he must not end little. Because he has been made in the image and in the likeness God, he must begin to think global even though he was in Eden.  See the scope of dominion and the vastness of space God gave to the man. It is to the end that man should expand his dominion and increase from where he is. The Scripture makes us to understand in Genesis chapter 1 verse 2, that darkness was one of the primary problems of the earth, and man was given light. So, the more the light shines the more darkness is being dispelled. So, how does a man fulfil purpose haven been created in the image of God, and carrying the light of God? It is by deploying what you have received from God to profit your generation. If your purpose is to bring light for example, as long as you shine, you are fulfilling purpose, as long darkness is being dispelled, it is because you are shining your unique light.

 

But there is an issue that we must look at to get this topic balanced. It is the issue talking about the three components of dominion that were mentioned earlier; Authority, expansion and influence. These three factors are the indicators of true dominion. If I now know my identity, and I begin to function in purpose does it mean I have received dominion? Does it mean I am already in dominion? So, dominion is resting on these three factors, and we would look at these in the next episode and how God was able to achieve this with man.  

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Apeh Francis Abah!

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