One of my favorite TV shows, back in the 60's and 70's was Mission Impossible. The MI team would receive their mission via tape, which after listening to it, would immediately combust. The assignment was always something crazy and seemingly impossible, but they always pulled it off.
As Christians, we too have been given a seemingly impossible mission. That mission was given to our distant relatives, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden, by God. Genesis 1:28, "God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it…” At that point, Adam and Eve were living in a perfect paradise, sin and death had not entered the world, they were walking in perfect harmony with God, and they had all eternity to complete the mission.
Their job was to continue to expand Eden/God’s Kingdom throughout the rest of the earth, so that all of earth would be a paradise. We know that they blew it, ate from the forbidden tree, sin and death entered, and they were removed from the garden and had to live life in the un-redeemed part of the earth.
The good news is that the Son of God left the glories of heaven to be born as a helpless child to a virgin, who had been impregnated by the Holy Spirit. His parents, Joseph and Mary were instructed to name him Jesus. The child grew in wisdom and stature and when he was about 30 years of age began his mission to redeem the earth and mankind’s authority. This was accomplished when he took all sin upon himself on the cross and paid the price for all mankind. He died, was placed in tomb, on the third day was resurrected, appeared to his disciples and others for 40 days, and was the first of many humans to enter heaven in a redeemed human body.
Jesus restored the original mission to mankind. So, if you’ve been wondering why you are here on earth? What your purpose or mission is? Here we go. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it. It’s the same mission God gave mankind from the very beginning. But, in practical nature, what does that mean?
Let’s look at each part:
Be fruitful and multiply – in the days of Adam and Eve, this meant for them to populate the earth with more people like them. In our day, it means to populate the earth with more people like Jesus. We are to preach/share the gospel of Jesus with everyone we know and make disciples/Jesus followers who go and share the gospel and make Jesus followers, who go and share the gospel and make Jesus followers, and so on. This is being fruitful and multiplying.
Fill the earth – we are to fill the earth with believers in Jesus who have become true disciples and are sharing the gospel and making Jesus followers.
Subdue it – Lucifer, was a prominent angel in heaven when he decided to rebel against God. He and one third of the angels (who also rebelled) were cast out of heaven to the earth. We see Lucifer, known as satan or the devil on earth influence Eve to disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When she and Adam did so, authority over the earth transferred to satan and he began to control what happened on earth. Sin and death entered with evil and it’s why our world looks the way it does. It was not God’s original plan, but He gave dominion over the earth to man and we handed it to the devil. No blaming God for all the evil in the world, it’s our fault. Fortunately, as I mentioned earlier, Jesus restored dominion/authority back to man and although the world is still tainted by sin, we again have the authority to subdue evil and spread the Kingdom of God throughout the world.
All that said, we can’t do that sitting in a comfortable church chair on Saturday or Sunday, listening to a nice worship concert and a TED talk message. We have to get out from behind the comfort of the walls and go into the world.
Our mission is to talk with our family members, neighbors, co-workers, and every other person we meet. We are to share the bad news, which is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (we are born with sin and our nature is sinful). That the penalty for sin is spiritual death and eternal torment in hell, separated from God. But that God made a way out, through believing in Jesus as our Savior. It’s the free gift of grace that is available to everyone. They don’t have to work for it, just receive the gift by faith.
Then we are to help equip them to become true disciples of Jesus, so that they can go share the good news and make other disciples, who share the good news and make other disciples. Thus multiplying and filling the earth.
We are to take authority over evil, through prayer in Jesus name. We are to heal the sick, cast out demons, and command evil to leave. Jesus has given us that authority and at the name of Jesus, everything evil must flee. That’s how we subdue the earth.
The good news is that we don’t have to do any of this on our own. If you are a born-again believer, you have the Holy Spirit living in you and you have direct connection to the Father and to Jesus. Whatever you bind here on earth is bound in the heavens by Jesus and His angelic forces. We can’t see our spiritual enemies, but we can discern when they are present and by speaking with authority, they will flee.
Jesus also said that He would never leave us, nor forsake us, so He is walking the road with us. We have power, but like any power, it’s only good if you use it. You can have a computer plugged into the wall, but if you don’t turn it own, it’s just a big paperweight. You have the power of God inside you, let it out.
So, that’s your mission. It seems impossible, but with God all things are possible. So, quickly accept your mission, before this message combusts and get to work sharing the good news and making Jesus followers. One day soon, Jesus will return for His church (all believers) and will send all those who chose not to believe into hell with the devil and his fallen angels. Then He will restore the earth to the garden and we will live forever in the presence and glory of God. What an exciting day that will be and if we've accomplished our mission, Jesus will say, "well done good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with the little, I will now give you much more." Hopefully, you will fulfill your mission and hear those amazing words!
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