The elements of the great design were present in the original creation. Man was placed in a beautiful environment and assigned a delightful task to perform. God came down to walk on the earth in fellowship with His children.

Then the eternal declaration was pronounced: let us make man in our image; let us make man male and female; man is to be fruitful, filling the earth with his image; man is to rule the works of God's hands.

This was an elementary step toward the stupendous program that is in the mind of God.

Man has been called to be perfectly in the image of God. If we are willing and obedient we can make progress toward this image while yet in our fleshly existence. It will require an eternity of eternities before we approach maturity as God's sons in His image.

Man has been called to union with Christ and union with others of his kind. This union does not consist merely of an agreement in which all work toward the same goal, such as in the building of the Tower of Babel. Rather, the union is identical with that which is true of the Godhead. We have been called to be one in Christ as Christ is One with the Father.

Man has been called to a degree of fruitfulness comparable to that of Abraham. As soon as God's image has been perfected in us we shall multiply that image throughout eternity—wherever God brings new creations into existence.

Man has been called to govern all the works of God's hands.

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:8)

"All things"! Christ-filled man is to be the lord of the creation.

God has not placed the world under the rule of angels but under the rule of man (Hebrews 2:5).

The current understanding (that we receive Christ in order to go to Heaven when we die, there to live in ornate "mansions" and do nothing) is not the Divine design. This vision is based on the traditions of men and the desires of the adamic flesh and soul.

The true vision is that of the Kingdom of God coming to the earth. The elect have been called to serve God now and in the new world that is coming. We must enter the four aspects of the Divine declaration before we are eligible to participate in the roles and tasks assigned to the Seed of Abraham, to the members of the Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 42:1).

It is one thing to be saved from the wrath of God and brought over into the new heaven and earth reign of Christ. It is another matter to participate in the roles and tasks delegated to the overcomers. They, being God's sons, have inherited all things (Revelation 21:7).

To be continued.