Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

21 April 2024

Reading From Psalms 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

–Psalm 8:3-9

     The first portion of this passage helps to give us proper perspective of humanity’s place in the universe.  Without the creativity and sustaining hand of the Most High God, we would not exist and now that we do exist we would perish without Him.  Regardless of the exact process of how the elements came together at the sound of His voice, it is vital to our faith that we acknowledge God as our Creator.  Science tells us that the Earth is perfectly positioned at the ideal distance from the sun to sustain life.  We are not too close or living things would burn up and not too far away or else we would freeze to death.  Life would not continue without care from the Lord. 

     Our position in the hierarchy of the universe is described as being “a little lower than the angels” but God created us with dominion over the Earth.  This is part of why believing the theological principles of the creation story of Genesis is vital to our understanding of our destiny in Him.  To know where we are going, we need to know where we came from.  There is much to unpack from the concept of humanity’s dominion.

     The first powerful idea regarding dominion is that it is authority that God the Father sovereignly and willingly gave to mankind.  This means that God will not force Himself into the lives of human beings.  They have free moral agency to choose His Way or their own ways of life.  Adam and Eve chose to give into temptation and do life on their terms.  They charted their own course rather than continue to enjoy the benefits of perfect fellowship with the Almighty. 

     Ever since they made that decision, every generation has suffered the consequences and added to their sin and rebellion, compounding the effects of increasing wickedness.  Compounded sin has unleashed disease, heartache, mental anguish, confusion, trouble, chaos, tragedy and everything that is not from God.  The reality we find ourselves in is the result of thousands of years of humanity exercising the authority God gave them.

     This dominion, this free moral agency, this divinely given ability to choose right from wrong gives me and it gives you tremendous responsibility.  The spiritual principle of sowing and reaping comes into play and helps us to understand the effects of our choices.  The Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 9:6-8, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 

This shows the positive impact our choices can have and as we look at world history, humanity has indeed chosen to do many wonderful things that have bettered life on earth.  This is of course is blended with the infectious, cancerous results of rebellion.  “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind”[1]  We are reaping the whirlwind today.

     What is the antidote to the sinful condition we find ourselves in?  When an individual comes to the realization that doing life on their terms and going along with the ways of the world is not working for them, that presents the opportunity to turn away from sin and rebellion and turn to God for forgiveness.  What a comfort to know that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is waiting with open arms to accept us just as we are, whatever state we are in, whichever point we are at in life.  God is love and His desire is to save, heal, empower and fill us with hope for the future.

     He can do this wonderful work for us if we come to Him in faith, believing He is who He says He is and that He will do what He said He will do.  Every time a person chooses to believe and repent, the Kingdom of God expands upon the Earth.  We must surrender our authority to Him; we must give back dominion to the One it rightfully belongs to. 

What does this look like on a practical, daily basis?  It means spending time with Him with the goal of knowing Him better.  The more we get to know God by studying His Word, praying to Him, worshipping Him, and spending time in nature and with other children of God, the more our spiritual eyes will open to what is really going on in the world around us and in our own lives.  Then when we are presented with the plethora of little choices and big decisions, we can inquire of the Lord and receive guidance from Him. We must put the principles of God’s Word into practice in order for them to be effective.

     Inquiring of the Lord, seeking guidance from Him and following His ways are key elements of functioning as kings and queens in the Kingdom of God.  When we are born again, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit to function in the authority of the King of Kings.  His power flows through us as we surrender more and more of our lives to Him.  This has huge ramifications to how we function in society.  We literally become agents of positive change on Earth.  The children of God, those who have been spiritually washed in the blood of Jesus and filled with the Spirit, are able to bring His light and love to hurting world. 

     “You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.  You made them rulers over the works of your hands.”  Before we are born again, our position is a little lower than the angels, but once we are connected to the Spirit of God by grace through faith, we have unity with God.  The marriage supper of the Lamb in the end times will signal that all believers, gathered from all time and space are ready to be one with Him as His Bride the Church.  We are partakers of His divine nature.[2]  Even angels long to look into these things.[3]

“God, I thank You for the honor and privilege of being Your adopted son.  I am grateful for Your Word the Bible which is Your special revelation to mankind and allows me the opportunity to learn more and more about the identity, community and destiny I have in You alone.  Thank You for saving me, for healing me, for empowering me and for blessing me with the hope of glory.  I pray that I will use the authority that You have given me for good and to glorify Your holy Name.  May Your Kingdom of light expand upon the Earth until the day that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of You, Heavenly Father.  Make me a good steward of the resources You have entrusted me and my family with.  Show me ways that I can care for Your creation.  I love You Lord.  Thank You for loving me.  Amen.”

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

–Genesis 1:26-27

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. –Luke 10:19

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence –II Peter 1:3

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:18-20

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. –Acts 1:8

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

–II Peter 1:4

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[1] Hosea 8:7

[2] II Peter 1:4

[3] I Peter 1:12