In Genesis 1 and 2, we see that in giving management of creation to Adam and Eve, God appointed human beings to rule the earth. All people would be their descendants, taking up their management responsibilities in turn:

“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.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:26-28, NKJV).

God’s intention for humans was that we would occupy the whole Earth and reign over it, to God’s glory. This reigning, expanding, culture-enriching purpose of God for mankind on Earth was never revoked or abandoned. It has only been interrupted and twisted by the Fall. But neither Satan nor sin is able to thwart God’s purposes. Christ’s redemptive work will ultimately restore, enhance, and expand God’s original plan. After the resurrection, believers will rule the New Earth with Christ, and what awaits us there is utter joy and adventure in seeing and knowing and walking with Christ, serving Him together in a glorious new universe.

I share more in this video (kindly animated by the staff at Clarion Creative):

Heaven ExplainED: Managers of Creation from Randy Alcorn - EPM on Vimeo.

Photo credit: NASA via Unsplash