In the Beginning
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A very long time ago . . .
God had a big idea ... and a plan.
A plan to Create ... and God acted. He created the world and everything there is with the Word of his mouth. God said, "Let there be Light!" And there was light. And then God said, "Let there be the planet Earth, and Atmosphere, Oceans, Land, and all manner of Vegetation." And all those things came into being. Then God spoke into existence the Sun, Moon and Stars, and all manner of Birds in the air, Marine Life in the sea, and Animal Life on dry ground. Finally, God said, "Let us make Man in our image." So, man and woman were created in God's own image. And God breathed into them the breath of life, and they became living souls. Then God created a beautiful garden and put man and woman into the garden to cultivate and care for it. And God said, "Let mankind rule over all the earth." God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And God walked and talked in fellowship with man and woman and gave them everything they needed. And man governed God's world under God's authority. But God's arch enemy, the Evil One himself, wanted to ruin God's plan and to rule God's world. He tempted man to disobey God ... and man rebelled. Then God expelled man from the garden; earth was cursed; and the world was damaged with death and destruction. Man lost his intimate relationship with God and forfeited his mandate to govern the world. God's plan for planet earth was temporarily set aside. But God had another plan, an eternal plan. A plan to Redeem and Restore ... and God acted. God so loved the world that he gave his Son as the price to ransom and redeem mankind. He provided a Way: a way for man's relationship with God to be restored ... and a way for man to re-enter God's Kingdom and to resume fulfilling his original destiny here on earth: governing the world as God's ambassador ... so that God's rule is expressed on earth just as it is in heaven. What a wonderful purpose and opportunity for man! This is truly good news about the Kingdom of God! |
Fifteen years ago . . .
God gave me a big idea ... and a plan he continues to shape.
This plan is to create a self-funded charitable foundation to advance his Kingdom on earth. Ever since, I have acted with wholehearted devotion to bring this plan into reality. In 2011, my original idea was expressed on a small card that was titled "My Very Important Promise!" The audacious promise made on that card was, "I will give away $50 Million over the next 4 years." At that time, I was involved in a business activity that was expected to provide significant resources that my family would give in support of various Christian organizations. Though my original promise remains unfulfilled, God's timing and current business activities are indicating the availability and responsibility of far greater financial resources than ever imagined before, my efforts remain focused and God is sharpening my vision. Since 2014, God has helped me understand that, while his plan for human beings, expressed in Genesis 2, took a detour past the cross—where the price was paid to restore the damaged relationship between God and man--God has not given up on his stated purpose for putting human beings on the earth. Therefore, while laboring to bring the lost back into relationship with God through evangelistic and discipleship efforts is fundamental, simply getting more souls back into relationship with God, and training them to live holy lives, is neither a comprehensive nor strategic way to address both of God's eternal plans. The Scriptures teach that the King of "kings" will return to earth and, together with the saints, they will reign, establish God's rule, and govern this planet. To me, this demonstrates that God remains faithful to his stated plan that earth shall be governed by his human offspring under his authority. As God's ambassadors, we commit to advance His Kingdom on earth now, ... and it will be our joy to support ministries that align with this commitment. In the original beginning, God demonstrated how to rule. He declared, "Let there be." And... there was. As redeemed image-bearers of God, we welcome the opportunity to advance both the redemptive plan he offered and the dominion plan he mandated to his image-bearers. As God inspires us, we will declare "Let there be..." and then actively support initiatives that advance God's Kingdom on earth until Heaven resounds "and there was!" ... and we hear our heavenly Father and King speak the words we long to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servants." |
