What is God Doing IN and WITH This World?

One of the most important questions we as Christ-followers need to ask ourselves is, what is God doing in and with this world? Why is this so important? Because it’s the answer to this question that determines our identity which in turn sets the direction for our lives. We as Christ’s disciples are not just marking time on this earth until he returns, but have a purpose, or you might want to say, a mission. And this mission is found as we ask ourselves, what is God doing?

So what is God doing? And what’s our role? I think all of Scripture, not just parts of it (ie. the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20) answers these questions for us. In Genesis 1-2, we read that God created this world and breathed life into us as humanity. It was our creation “in his image” which was the climax of all he made as he commanded us, in relationship with him, to rule and perfect this world or temple (much more could be written about this) in which the presence of God dwelled.

Unfortunately, we tried to usurp the role of God as we became convinced to doubt the goodness of God (see Genesis 3). As a result of our disobedience, the world became a place of envy instead of gratitude, pride instead of humility, and strife instead of peace. God, however, did not wash his hands of us and what he made. Instead of abandonment, God continued to pursue his creation as he began the mission of making right what was made wrong.

We read in Genesis 12 that his call to Abram was to bless him and his family in order that he would bless all peoples on the earth. And as his family became a nation, the people of Israel, they were to be a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6). They were to be the ones God used to begin restoring this earth to once again be his kingdom, the place where he dwelled openly and freely.

Chances are, you know the rest of the story. Israel became just as rebellious and needed saving just as much as all the nations around her. So Isaiah spoke of a new servant, one that would suffer (Isaiah 52:13-53:12), that would bring healing and forgiveness for Israel and the world around her. Jeremiah spoke of a day when the law would not be written on stone tablets (as was the 10 commandments) but would instead be written on people’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). Ezekiel spoke, much like Jeremiah, that “hearts of stone” would be replaced by “hearts of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

These promises made in the Old Testament, of which the ones listed above are just a sampling, came to completion in Jesus. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection began a new day. The Kingdom which had been thwarted because of our sin was breaking into the world once again. What God began in Genesis 1 is now in the beginning stages of being restored. And as we read in Revelation 21-22, it will one day be completed. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

So what is God doing in and with this world? He is restoring and renewing it! He is reconciling “to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20). “All things” are being united in Christ, “things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:10).

What does all this mean for us? How does this story of God shape us? To start with, we must remember that we are God’s image bearers. We have a role to play in God’s mission for this world. What we do is important. And I have to say here that though proclaiming the gospel is a vital part of our mission, it is not the whole of it. What I hope you glean from this is not that we should deemphasize sharing the gospel (there is plenty I have written about it’s necessity), but that we should elevate everything else we do in life as part of the mission of God as well. “What if we ponder,” writes Michael Wittmer, “what it means to be to follow our crucified Christ as we close a deal, type a report, sort the mail, care for our employees, or prepare a lesson?” (See Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright & Heaven is A Place on Earth by Michael Wittmer)

Bottom line: our role is vital to God’s mission of renewing this earth. This is why we were created and now saved. This is why we are told to pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This is why we become engineers, doctors, lawyers, painters, construction workers, day care workers, etc…. This is why we plant cotton (at least many of us in West Texas), say “hello” to strangers, and help those in need. And of course, this is why we share the story of Jesus and ask people to follow him.

This is good news for us! The Kingdom has broken in and we as God’s icons are all wrapped up in it. So no matter whether you work on Wall street or pick up trash on Wall street, you are vital to the Kingdom. And all you do matters! As Michael Wittmer asks: “What if we ponder what it means to follow our crucified Christ as we close a deal, type a report, sort the mail, care for our employees, or prepare a lesson?” This is who you are in this world. This is your direction in this life. Follow it!

Photo by Brett Zeck on Unsplash