Chapter 4
The Original Purpose: God's Perfect Design
"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'"
— Genesis 1:26
The Adamic Dispensation
Let us now examine the first dispensation in detail, the Original Purpose, which I also call the Adamic Dispensation.
This is where everything began. This is God's perfect design. By studying what God originally intended, we can understand what was lost in the fall and what will ultimately be restored.
What God Was Looking For
When God said, "Let Us make man," what was He looking for?
Many people answer this question incorrectly. They say, "God was looking for someone to worship Him." But this is not accurate.
Think about it: Angels were already worshipping God before man was created. Cherubim and seraphim worship God day and night. They cry, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!" God has never lacked worship.
Others say, "God was looking for someone to take care of the garden." But this is also wrong. God was not creating a gardener or a caretaker for His property.
So what was God looking for?
God was looking for a relative.
God only had angels, and angels are servants. They do His bidding, but they are not His equals. They are not His kin. They cannot truly fellowship with Him the way a peer can.
So God, by creating Adam, was looking for a son, someone who is like Him. Someone He can relate to. Someone He can fellowship with as an equal.
Man as a God on Earth
To understand the Original Purpose, you must understand this truth that may sound shocking:
Man was created to be a god on earth.
Before you cry "blasphemy," let me show you from Scripture.
When Jesus was accused of blasphemy for calling Himself God, He responded:
"Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your law, "I said, you are gods"? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, "You are blaspheming," because I said, "I am the Son of God"?'"
— John 10:34-36
Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6, which says:
"I said, 'You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.'"
And in Luke's genealogy of Jesus, we read at the very end:
"...the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God."
— Luke 3:38
Adam is called "the son of God." A son of God is... what? A god. Just as a son of a snake is a snake, and a son of a goat is a goat, a son of God is a god.
The Two Kings Structure
Here is how it was designed to work:
| Realm | Ruler | |-------|-------| | Heaven | God the Father: King and God | | Earth | Adam: King and god (under God) |
God is the King of heaven. Man was created to be the king of earth.
God is the God of heaven. Man was created to be the god of earth.
When God comes from heaven, He finds another god on earth who is submitted to the higher God. And the two gods can fellowship.
The Illustration of Two Presidents
Imagine President Museveni of Uganda visiting President Ruto of Kenya in Nairobi. What would they have?
Fellowship.
Why can they fellowship? Because each has his own kingdom. Each has his own authority. They meet as equals in their respective domains. They are not competitors. They are peers who can share, discuss, and enjoy each other's company.
That is exactly what God wanted with man. Not a servant begging for crumbs. Not a slave groveling in submission. But a son, a king in his own right, who could fellowship with his Father as an equal.
The Breath of Life
For man to function as a god on earth, something had to happen. God had to put God in man.
Genesis 2:7 says:
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."
What is this breath of life? It is God Himself. God poured Himself into man. Man became "god from God."
You cannot be a god unless there is God in you. So God transferred something of Himself into Adam. He gave Adam His nature, His authority, His capacity. Adam was now equipped to rule as a god on earth because the life of God was in him.
What God Provided for Adam
For Adam to fulfill his original purpose, God equipped him with everything he needed. Let me detail these provisions:
1. The Image of God (Spiritual Dimension)
Genesis 1:26 says God made man "in Our image, according to Our likeness."
Man was given a spiritual dimension. He was not merely physical. He had the capacity to operate in the spiritual realm, to commune with God, to function like God.
2. Dominion (Authority to Reign)
The same verse says, "Let them have dominion."
Man was given authority over all creation, the fish, the birds, the animals, and the earth itself. Everything was under his command. He was the king. Creation obeyed him.
3. A Destiny Helper (Eve)
Genesis 2:18 says:
"And the Lord God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.'"
Even in perfection, man needed someone else. Purpose was not meant to be fulfilled alone. So God gave Adam a partner, someone who shared his destiny, who could work alongside him.
4. A Perfect Location (The Garden)
Genesis 2:8 says:
"The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed."
God prepared a specific location for man. Not just anywhere on earth, a garden, a protected, provision-filled environment where man could thrive and fulfill his purpose.
5. Provision of Food
Genesis 2:9 says:
"And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food."
Man did not have to labor for his food. It grew automatically. Every tree that was pleasant and nourishing was readily available.
6. Access to the Tree of Life
Among the trees in the garden was the Tree of Life:
"The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden."
— Genesis 2:9
The Tree of Life provided eternal health. If Adam ate from it, he would live forever. There would be no sickness, no aging, no death. This was available to him.
7. Financial Resources (The Rivers)
Genesis 2:10-12 describes a river system flowing from Eden:
"Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads... The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there."
Gold. Bdellium. Onyx stone. Precious minerals and resources were available to Adam through this river system. He had access to wealth.
8. Direct Fellowship with God
Genesis 3:8 mentions that God used to walk in the garden in the cool of the day. Adam had direct, face-to-face fellowship with his Creator. He did not need a Bible, God was His Bible. He did not need prophets, God spoke directly to him.
Summary of Adam's Provisions
| Provision | Purpose | |-----------|---------| | Image of God | Spiritual capacity to operate like God | | Dominion | Authority to rule the earth | | Destiny helper (Eve) | Partnership for purpose fulfillment | | Garden location | Perfect environment for thriving | | Food provision | Physical sustenance without labor | | Tree of Life | Eternal health in the body | | River system to Havilah | Access to wealth and resources | | God's presence | Direct fellowship and wisdom |
How Adam Functioned
In this dispensation, Adam did not have to:
- Pray and fast for breakthrough
- Fight against demonic opposition
- Labor and sweat for provision
- Seek healing for sickness
- Search for his purpose
- Wonder about God's will
He simply was what he was created to be. Everything functioned as designed. His authority was uncontested. His provision was automatic. His relationship with God was direct.
This is the Original Purpose. This is what God intended. This is the standard against which everything else must be measured.
The Significance for Us
Why does this matter for us today?
Because the Original Purpose reveals the destination. It shows us what God is working toward. It demonstrates what will ultimately be restored.
When we see what Adam had, we understand what we lost in the fall. When we understand what we lost, we can appreciate what Christ came to restore. When we know the goal, we can navigate the journey.
The Original Purpose is not just history. It is prophecy. It is our future. In the Restored Purpose, we will return to something even greater than what Adam experienced.
But first, we must understand how it all went wrong.
Reflection Questions
- How does understanding Adam as "a god on earth" change your perspective on human dignity and purpose?
- Which of Adam's provisions do you wish you had access to today? Why?
- How does knowing the Original Purpose give you hope for the future?
- What does it mean for your identity that you were created to be a "son of God" like Adam?
Prayer
Father, thank You for showing me Your original design. I see now what You intended for humanity, fellowship, authority, provision, and purpose. Thank You that this is not just history but prophecy. This is where we are heading. Help me to hold onto this vision as I navigate the present challenges. Let the Original Purpose become the anchor for my hope. In Jesus' name, Amen.