by Dr. Kluane Spake

Let's review creations awesome plan. From the beginning God said, "Light be." He spoke about the Light of Himself saturating the wasteland of the earth. He worked a new order of things, calling forth life. Then, on the sixth day! All creation watched the Supreme sovereign of the universe shape a human creature in His image. God wanted to share His most valuable gift of all that He was, and to create a family that lived in His very life and nature. The Lord said that everything He had made was "VERY GOOD" (Gen. 1:31).

Even the angels asked, "What is a man..." (Psalm 8:3-4), why is there a new order in creation? Why is he crowned with glory? This glory of the Creator Himself, encircled Adam as his covering.

Briefly, let's say that humans (both male and female) were created to live completely under God's authority. They were not created to be independent and lawless, but totally dependent upon the Word of the Lord God. Adam and the woman were placed in the middle of His creation and commanded to take authority and dominion over the earth. These first humans were given one of the greatest gifts ever given - the power of choice. As we all know, they misused their choices and consequently relinquished their rule and control to the serpent who became the "prince of this world."

The original INTENTION was that a human never be sick, have lack, or be fearful. And that intention never changed (Mal. 3:6). However, the consequence was that the first couple lost the nature (likeness) of God when they fell, didn't they? The original purpose at creation was for them to dwell with God and rule the earth; but they chose to forfeit their own holy nature, glory, self-esteem, dignity, and worth.

The fall caused humans to become dominated by the carnal nature (also called the self nature, the vanity of their minds, or the flesh). God said, "My Spirit shall not rule in man... in their going astray they are flesh" (Gen. 6:3). The self-life began to rule. Because of the Fall, humanity lost:

• 1. Character. God intended that humans be like Him in image and likeness.
• 2. Dominion. God designed humans to rule in authority.
• 3. Relationship. God expected humans to relate to Him in intimate fellowship.
• 4. Eternal life with God. God proposed that humans live in eternal life now.
• 5. The Glory.
• 6. Authority

Adam lived for several generations after being expelled from Paradise. He was actually a contemporary with Methuselah for 243 years... and Adam probably repeated the oral history of the creation story until the time of the Flood. Just imagine Adam sitting around for the next 900 years of his life, telling his family what it was like living in Eden and what it felt like to be clothed with God's glory. How did he explain giving away all that authority and dominion? For what?

Remember that God didn't give Satan any authority in the garden. No, the first humans were gave up theirs. In that single action, all humanity lost God's inherent holy nature and could no longer fellowship with Him in the cool of the day. Since then, folks have tried everything on their own to regain this relationship. Some lie on beds of nails while others beat themselves with chains and chant long ritualistic prayers. Some recite ancient prayers while holding beads.

Still, nothing alters the fact that this fallen nature brings humankind to a crisis of identity, endlessly chasing after love, riches, and acceptance. Worthlessness still mars the core concept of the human personality.

Death came. Spiritual death was immediate, and physical death began a 900-year process. Humankind lost their authority. Sin became the inheritance of all the WORLD. Romans 3:23 tells us that because of the Fall, we come "short of the glory of God." That covering of splendor disappeared and humans were left knowing of their nakedness and hiding from the magnificent presence of the Lord (Gen. 3:10). The Fall brought about:

• 1. Flesh that lusts against the Spirit (Gal. 5:17).
• 2. The mind of the flesh at enmity against God (Romans 8:7).
• 3. Flesh unable to submit to the law of God (Rom. 8:7).
• 4. Flesh that cares about the things of the flesh (Rom. 8:5).
• 5. The mind of the flesh that is death (Rom. 8:6).
• 6. Starting out in the spirit and ending up in the flesh (Gal. 3:3).
• 7. Flesh that brings envying, strife, and division (1 Cor. 3:3,4).
• 8. Boasting in the spirit of the flesh (2 Cor. 11:18).
• 9. Flesh spotting their garments (Jude 23).

God in His mercy had plans (a process of covenants) to bring humankind back to this original paradise position. The Bible calls these wondrous plans, "mysteries" or "divine secrets." Because the fall of humanity brought eternal death, only another human could get back, restore, redeem, and resurrect everything that was lost. Consequently, God stripped Himself of His deity and came to earth as a human being. In His humanity, the Lord Jesus Christ overcame the enemy and gave us back His authority. Only Jesus could redeem everything lost in the Fall.

Still up to the same old tricks of deception, the "god of this world" continues to try to influence this world's systems and to entice us into to giving away our inheritance. Except now, because of Jesus' sacrifice, you and I no longer have to be victims -- the devil no longer rules. He has no power IN US except what we conceed!

Actualizing Christ's redemptive sacrifice causes us to die to the inherited carnality and return to our pre-fall status of dominion and authority. The work of the cross gives birth to a new race of people with the potential to be equipped with His image and His anointing. Because of holy covenant, we - as ransomed people with human bodies can speak God's will into the earth. Jesus reveals Himself as omni-present through His body, the glorified church.

That's us, with faces shining.