An optimistic view of tomorrow

I’m optimistic about the future so should you

Why am I optimistic about the future you might ask?  Well because my biblical worldview leads me to this conclusion.  What follows in a short summary of a much larger picture I will be writing on the topic of a biblical worldview of eschatology.

Gen. 1:26-30   is the text which grounds my understanding of today and the future.  This text at the beginning of scripture is the plan and purpose statement for His creation.

Gen. 1:26-30   Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁹ Then God said, “Behold, I have given to you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has the fruit of the tree yielding seed; it shall be food for you; ³⁰ and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that creeps on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. ³¹ And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Notice God’s plan and purpose we are given in this text. –  Gen 1:26-27, Gen 1:29-30, Gen 2:15-17

1. We were made to be the vessels which filled the world with His Glory (image)
   1. We were made to image God to His created world
   1. We were made to be caretakers for God to His create world
   1. We were made to fill the earth and subdue it. Notice the imperatives (commands) in this text.

1. To Be fruitful
2. To Multiply
3. To Fill the earth
4. To Subdue the earth
5. To Have Dominion (Caretaker)

The plan and purpose of Gen 1:26-30 partially lost by the fall have been fully restored in Christ. The fall brought death, but Jesus brings life.  According to scripture Christ is reigning now until all enemies are placed under His feet then the end will come.

1Cor. 15:20-26   But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign UNTIL HE HAS PUT ALL HIS ENEMIES UNDER HIS FEET.

We are now his chosen family, His royal priests to proclaim his greatness to this world – 1 Pet 2:9-10

He now works in the world through His ambassadors. 2Cor. 5:16-19   Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ¹⁸ Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their transgressions against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

1. We were redeemed by Christ and made new
2. We were reconciled to Christ
3. We were given the ministry of reconciliation
4. Christ is in the world reconciling the world to himself

So, what was lost or damaged by the sin of Adam is being restored through Christ. So here is the short version:

Point 1 – Jesus is currently on the throne and progressively His enemies are being put under His feet.

1. The kingdom of God is in full force – Jesus clearly stated if I cast our demons by the finger of God the kingdom of God has come upon you – Luke 11:20
2. “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed… for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17:20–21
3. He must reign until all enemies are put under his feet – 1 Cor 15:25, Heb 2:8

Point 2 – Jesus established a Church which will not fail

1. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. – Matt 16:18
2. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed it grows until it becomes the largest tree in the garden – Matt 13:31
3. The kingdom of God is like leaven – It grows until the bread us fully leavened – Matt 13:33 
4. We must proclaim the message to the whole world – Matt 28:18-20
5. The church started with 1, then 12, then 120 then 3000 and then 5000 and continues to grow today with some estimated as high as 2.3 to 2.4 billion.  I think this should really say those who say they are Christians.  The actual number is lower but still amazing growth as the scriptures detail

What is the point what do I believe: I have been thinking a lot about the future.  As a father, grandfather and great-grandfather I think about my family’s futures.  Will they need to look daily at the news and wonder if this is the day of the rapture.  No, they can look with a positive view about the mission of Christ and the Church. I believe they can live their lives in faith fulfilling their part in the plan and purpose of God. They are a part of this plan to make the message of Christ grow upon the earth until all His enemies are put under His feet. The world progressively becomes filled with believers and His Glory. While trials and near-term judgments of God may come, I believe the scriptures teach the world is going to be won to Christ little by little until he returns at the second coming.  This will be accomplished through the Church fulfilling the great commission (Matt 28:18-20) and the plan and purpose as given in Gen 1:26-30.

So, family, I encourage you don’t wait around hoping for a rapture.  Instead put your faith and trust in Christ and His growing dominion.  Live, love, plan and grow Christ. He is in the world working until all His enemies are defeated and placed under His feet.