Man’s Place in God’s Universe

GOLDEN TEXT: “Thou madest him [man] to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.” —Psalm 8:6

PSALM 8

THE Creator gave man the high position of king in his earthly domain. This was man’s place in God’s universe. Many students of the Bible have lost sight of this basic truth, and think of man’s present brief existence on earth as being preparatory for a later home in heaven. But nothing even remotely suggesting this idea is mentioned in the Genesis record of creation. According to this record man was created in the image of God, commanded to multiply and fill the earth, and have dominion over it.—Gen. 1:26-30

The 8th Psalm enlarges somewhat upon this truth, and explains why God is sufficiently interested in man as to continue being “mindful” of him, and to “visit” him. “When I consider thy heavens,” David writes, “the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

David then reminds us that man is not an ordinary creature. He may seem to be insignificant, compared with the mighty works of creation as a whole. But, after all, he was created in God’s image, and was given dominion over the earth. This makes man important from the Creator’s standpoint. True, man sinned and lost his dominion, and his life. But God still loved him, and in his plan made provision for his recovery from sin and death.

An important aspect in the divine plan to restore man to that which he lost is suggested in the word “visitest.” This visit is carried out by God’s beloved Son, whom he sent into the world to be man’s Redeemer and Savior.—John 3:16

In Hebrews 2:6-10 Paul associates the coming of Jesus with the 8th Psalm, which he looks upon as being in part a prophecy outlining God’s future plan for man, showing it to be the same as his original design in the creation. As noted, while man was originally given dominion over the earth, he lost that dominion through sin. Because of this Paul observes, “We see not yet all things put under him,” that is, under man. (vs. 8) In other words, the ultimate divine purpose in the creation of man has not yet been attained.

But the plan which will lead to the full accomplishment of this purpose is moving forward. Paul notes that while we do not yet see man restored to his lost dominion, “we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (vs. 9) In Jesus’ first visit to earth he came as a man, a perfect man. It was his humanity which he gave in death as a substitute for the forfeited life of Adam. (John 6:51; I Cor. 15:21,22) This was a necessary step, looking toward the final and complete recovery of man from sin and death.

So, while we do not now see man properly exercising his dominion over the earth, and while at present he is a dying creature, with little of the original divine image remaining, it will not always be thus, for there is a second part of Jesus’ “visit, “ during which, through the agencies of his messianic kingdom, man will be restored to that which was lost—his life, home, and dominion.

This work of restoring man to his lost dominion, and to life, will be accomplished during a period described by Peter as “the times of restitution of all things” which, he declared, God had “spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21) This is God’s arrangement for his earthly creatures in general. In the outworking of his plan for the accomplishment of this purpose, there has been in progress throughout the Gospel Age the selection from mankind of a “little flock” to be associated with Jesus in the work of restoration to be accomplished during the thousand years of his kingdom. (Luke 12:32) Jesus said that he would go away and prepare a place for these. (John 14:2,3) Paul refers to them as participating in a “heavenly calling.”—Heb. 3:1

There are many promises of God in the Bible which apply exclusively to these who are called to discipleship during the present age to prove their worthiness of living and reigning with Christ during the Millennial Age. These promises emphasize the spiritual, or heavenly nature of their calling. Many students of the Bible have failed to recognize, however, that these heavenly promises to the footstep followers of the Master do not reflect his purpose for mankind in general. Man’s destined position in God’s universe continues to be on earth, where he will eventually exercise his original God-given dominion.

QUESTIONS

What provision did God make for his human creatures?

What is implied by the word “visitest” in Psalm 8:4?

Explain the basis upon which man is redeemed from death.

Do the heavenly promises of the Bible apply to mankind as a whole?

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