While most of the offspring of God’s first created man absence themselves from the thoughts and the purpose of God’s created world, God according to His intent maintains all His thoughts and purpose according to the reason behind their beginning. With God’s word being eternal, an existence of being without end, we understand that His creation was the result of His word. With understanding given concerning the written story of creation from the Book of Genesis, we know this book to be but the seed-plot of all He purposed from before day one until His seventh day of rest. This seven-day plan speaks of the seven thousand years purposed to bring completion of that which he intended. Therefore, by divine revelation, His truth is that which reveals, not only the purpose, but, the method of completion. In this, His heart-felt intention is revealed to lead His creation unto that fulfillment of purpose, His eternal intention.
In this truth, we are drawn to the fact of His intention for the created man. Within the expanse of creation, God instituted an eternal law which, without ceasing, continues to govern God’s purpose. That law, mostly ignored by the populace, is the law of every seed bringing forth after its own kind. Gen. 1:26-28a states,
“And God said, Let us [stating His divine purpose] make man [mankind] in Our image, after Our likeness [in the likeness of God’s image]: 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 creeps upon the earth. So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish [fill] the earth, and subdue it ….”.
Herein, God’s divine purpose was formed from His mind. Then, when declaring the intent of His heart and stating from within Himself, it touched all that’s contained within and around Him, setting in motion His divine purpose. Remember, all things are of God and come forth out of Him. In this God formed the man from the dust of the earth and then breathed into him as he become a living soul. Note that God’s breath is that part of His life which He placed within the man. This breath, the God life, was the enabler given to the man for maturing him into the full likeness of God’s image. Gen. 2:7 declares,
“And the Lord God formed [as a potter] man [Adam – denoting his origin, as being made from the dust of the earth] of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [breath that is life]; and man became a living soul [pointing to the nature of man’s mind, his will, his emotions and his desires, as being alive unto God]”.
Thus, the beginning of the man Adam was set within the earth to become a family, a family wherein God was to dwell, and they likewise were to dwell with God as a family filled with the nature of God. Herein, creating for Himself a people of His likeness to fill creation as they subdued the earth for God’s soon coming kingdom and on into eternity.
As we follow the days of God’s created man, in fulfilling His seven-day (7000 year) plan, all things have and are working in agreement to that plan. The law, given for man’s continuous progressive process, was for the now fallen man to learn that he could not, in his carnality, his self helps nor his fleshly abilities, fulfill and live according to God’s law. Herein, the learning process was needed to bring knowledge to man that he needed a God to be his enabler to take the place of man being a god over self. In this, the knowledge of God, even before the foundation of the world, prepared for Himself a sacrifice for man’s inability. This sacrifice, from God’s heart, was for the continuing in making His created man into God’s image in agreement with God’s eternal purpose. That purpose is and continues to be the making up of His family when the coming day of God ushers in a new heaven and earth.
2 Peter 3:12-13,
“Looking for [to watch for, expect and thus look or wait for]and hasting unto [earnestly looking for] the coming of the day of God, wherein the heaven’s [consider the invisible spiritual condition of carnal man] being on fire [heat of carnality resisting the Christ within receiving man] shall be dissolved [melt], and the elements [elementary rules of the world of the flesh man] shall melt [be dissolved] with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to [God’s intent and purpose] His promise [Read 2 Peter 1:4] look for a new [freshly made – new creation man] heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth [Christ dwelling within a Christ natured many member man of Christ’s body] \righteousness”.
According to these truths until the complete fulfillment of God’s purpose and promises, in the completing of the creation of man into the likeness of His image, the day of the Lord, His increasing creating continues. In this, let us be knowledgeable of this understanding. God’s creation continues according to His, before the foundation of the world, original intention.
1 Cor. 1:25,
“Because the foolishness of God [the Father, the revealed God] is wiser than men [the individual human, the son of man]; and the weakness of God is stronger than men”.
Herein the necessity is for man to see and understand that the eternal purpose of God shall not be lowered by any degree because of man’s ability or lack of it. Man’s position, knowing that in his own self he is unable nor has he the ability to rule or make of himself anything concerning God’s pre-creation purpose. In this, while man expresses the desire to rule self and be his own god, he always falls far short of God’s wisdom and strength and purpose.
1 Cor. 1:26,
“For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called”.
Note in seeing with understanding, that the calling as purposed by God remains independent of man’s own ability. In seeing this, “see” speaks of looking even though nothing can be seen, but there remains the ability to observe accurately and with desire. This “see” also point to a mental vision. But, clarity should remain steadfast that this calling is independent from man ability or natural talent’s. Thus, man needs to consider the condition of himself when called. The natural man is a carnal vessel full of corruption as generated by the carnal fleshly mind and its desires. This condition removes the man from the God life as He originally purposed. Man’s earthly or natural status is not a qualification providing success for a spiritual walk with God that leads to completeness. In this truth note:
1 Cor. 1:27, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty”.
Thus, a knowing given, that all which comes from the mind-sets of the flesh-man, his carnal thoughts cannot fulfill the destination that God chose for us.
In this truth, except in obedience to God’s progressive work, once a vessel accepts the sacrifice given by the Father, the things of the natural fleshly man remain in the condition of having the inability to help God in creating His new creation man. For this reason, God, sits aside all that mankind counts as wise, mighty, or successful. In these things God confounds the mind of man, He puts it to shame by calling and using what man seemingly deems as nonessential. Herein, God chooses out from mankind these non-essential things which puts man’s mind-set to shame concerning his abilities and purposes, deeming them as foolish.
1 Cor. 1:28, “And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are”.
“Base things” speak in line with that which the world recognizes as worthless. It speaks of those that are without a family position, a status of not being important to society. It sometimes is considered as something to throw away. In being “despised”, these called ones are counted as nothing, as in the eyes of the world they remain as nothing. These called “are nots” show the worldly attitude concerning a people of no importance. In this, the called ones are to stand with this understanding.
1 Cor. 1:29, “That no flesh should glory [boast or depend on self] in His presence”.
But in all this, we have this consolation, that God’s word, His promises, His eternal purpose shall come to a full measure of His intention.
1 Cor. 1:30-31, “But of Him [out from Him] are you in [remaining within] Christ Jesus, who of [from] God is made unto us wisdom [become wisdom from God] and righteousness [made right with God], and sanctification [holiness], and redemption [the atonement]: That, according as it is written, He that glories [boast], let him glory [boast] in the Lord”.
This transitional period is when we cease from living for self, in and away from God, and now dwell or live within the Father in all things. No longer independent, but a people living totally in and for the life of Christ who is in the Father.
Lest a falling away from the eternal purpose of God is entertained, a failing to become a people of His image, His family, His dwelling place, we should refresh our minds and hearts continually. That is, a knowing that we were never created to be our own god, but to become His family with God as our Father. Know that God is very jealous for His family and for this cause and purpose He is willing to show us Himself according to His ways. He desires not to limit His family to just seeing His mighty acts but to know them. Psalms 103: 7 declares,
“He [God] made known His ways [the reason for His acts] unto Moses, His acts [visible actions to the people] unto the children of Israel”.
Even among today’s church, while recognizing the visible actions of God’s supernatural acts are important, the church of today seemingly makes moves to eliminate the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Man needs to remember that God remains a supernatural God. Among those who still believe in the Holy Spirits power and presence, many seem to be willing to settle with the removing such spiritual displays. Meanwhile God is maturing a people which, as Moses, are coming to know the “ways” – the reason behind God’s acts” in fulfilling His eternal purpose. That is, an intimate relationship that reveals God’s face, a relationship of a face to face family setting where the Father speaks of all His purpose to and for His family.
In reading scripture from Ephesians 4:1-13, we should consider certain words and phrases which speak loudly to enlarge our understanding. In verse five note the words “faith” and “baptism”. Here the word “faith” speaks concerning doctrine according to God’s ultimate intention from before the foundation of the world. The word “baptism” points to the baptism of the spirit by whom we are baptized into one body. That body spoken of here speaks of the many member body of Christ. This is confirmed in verse six when using the word “all” which speaks of the indwelling of God in the members of His body. Next let’s consider verse thirteen which reveals the increase of Christ concerning His body. A coming into a “perfect” man which declares of a completely full-grown man; one who has reached spiritual maturity as to age or qualification; that which has reached its purposed end. Does this not agree with that eternal purpose of God?
In coming into such knowledge, it entitles us to receive full or perfect knowledge. A knowledge that promotes a coming into the “stature”, the mature body of Christ. Declaring a purpose of become a people of fulness concerning the Christ, His head and many member body. “Fulness” speaks of those body members that “fill-up” the body of Christ, as the body of Christ fills up and completes the dispensation of the fulness of times. The key revealed here is, let us make God our center and not we ourselves.
1 Cor. 2:6-8,
“Howbeit, we speak wisdom among them [pointing to ‘the perfect’ which speaks of God’s purpose that has reached its end] that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world [wisdom of the age, man’s carnality VS God’s wisdom], nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught [that which is passing away]: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [a sacred secret, something concealed that can be revealed by the Holy Spirit], even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained [preordained] before [a position of being in sight, or before one in place] the world unto [a line drawn to meet another line, at a certain point, redeemed man coming into Christ] our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew [none became acquainted with]: for had they know it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory”.
In this truth, God, a God of certainty reveals Himself to His creation from the position of perfecting His eternal purpose from before the creation of the world. In God’s purpose, man stands in the place of inability concerning fulfilling God’s purpose. It is God who purposed and God alone who shall faithfully fulfill within His family the very stature of the fulness of Christ. Rom. 11:34-36 states,
“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed [repaid] unto him again? For of Him [all thing come from Him], and through Him [proceeding from and a passing out; denoting the passing through whatever is interposed between the beginning and the end of such action] and to Him [denotes motion to or unto an object, with the purpose of reaching or touching it], are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen”.
In seeing and receiving an understanding concerning God’s purpose, let us sit up and take notice concerning spending our lives in empty religious activities that only draw attention to self. Let us lose sight of self and begin to see God and His purpose as it flows from God’s heart. A flowing that flows through God and flows unto God.
Col. 2:8-9,
“Beware [see to it; to observe accurately and with desire]lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after [with purpose or intention] the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ: for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”.
Thus, an awakening, a coming to the end of self that all things in God might pass through His people to being glory and honor to our everlasting God. A God that created all things for Himself and purposed to be enjoyed by and through His family.