- God has created us in His image to reflect His glory.
- God’s glory is spread throughout the world when we are “fruitful and multiply.”
- Multiplying God’s Image around the world is the heart of the Great Commission: to make disciples of all nations.
Nike makes use of vast resources to project Michael Jordan’s image around the world. But what kind of resources do believers have for projecting Christ’s image globally?
After commanding Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply,” God continues saying, “have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).
There are two implicit truths here: 1) God created and owns everything. 2) God has given dominion over all things to humans.
Why would God do that? To resource the global effort to reflect His image to the world.
Here’s an example:
A friend of mine, Brittney, spent a year as a student in China. While there, she became friends with a lady from Kenya named Alice.
Alice shared with Brittney that she had a daughter who wanted to study at an American university. Brittney told Alice that if her daughter wanted to study at the University near Brittney’s home town, she could live with her parents.
Several months later, Alice’s daughter, Doris, showed up to live with Brittney’s parents.
One day, Brittney’s dad was taking Doris to an international student orientation. While listening to presentations, Brittney’s dad learned about a “friendship family” program where American families partnered with the local university to host students during holidays and weekends.
Through the “friendship family” program, Brittney’s family met a Chinese student named Xi Wu. Over the next few years, Doris and Xi Wu became a part of the family. And after countless gospel conversations, Xi Wu placed faith in Christ.
According to Genesis 1:28, God provided all of the resources to make this possible. God provided the airline transportation to bring together Brittney and Alice in China. He made the international department of the local university available to Brittney’s family to meet Xi Wu. And God provided the home for Brittney’s parents to host Doris and Xi Wu and share the gospel.
Most likely, Delta Airlines, Southern Arkansas University, and the Local Mortgage company have no idea that they were a part of God’s divine resourcing for this one gospel story. But they were -God owns them all, and God gives his children dominion over all things to accomplish his purposes.
So take a moment to look at your world a little differently today. Most likely God has provided a local park through your city government. I wonder how he wants you to use that resource to project his image to the world?
And what about the local apartment complexes? God owns them too. Could your church take advantage of such places where a large gathering of people live in community? I wonder how many of them haven’t heard the gospel? How many children at those complexes would love to participate in a Bible school if a local church would bring it to them for a week this summer?
What about your local schools? How many relationships is God providing for you to share the gospel through PTA meetings and field trips.
Nike has done amazing things with their marketing, but their funds are limited. God’s resource, however, are unlimited. We just have to open our eyes to all the wonderful opportunities!