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 all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)
Do you know what God’s original intentions were for the human race? According to today’s verse, he wanted us to have dominion.
Many of us have picked up the opposite belief. We think that we have very little control over our lives, and have learned to just accept things the way they are. Often this is because we’ve been told that God gave us limitations, and he had a purpose for doing so.
But the truth is that God wants us to reign in life. God doesn’t limit us! Our own beliefs do that!
Although many of our old hymns have gorgeous verses, a number of them contribute to this misbelief. They seem to be saying that we’re locked into this world of woe and that we need to be content with barely getting by and holding the fort until God finally takes us home.
But I don’t call that dominion!
We aren’t supposed to live our lives just waiting for heaven. The truth is, God gave mankind the mandate to have dominion, the freedom to choose how to live and, in Christ, the power to live well.
You can enjoy life (John 10:10, AMPC). You are blessed abundantly (2 Corinthians 2:8–9) and have God’s favor (Psalm 84:11). And you are empowered to make a difference on this planet—to influence people for Christ wherever you go.