Have you ever paused to ask yourself why you’re here on Earth? Are you busy ignoring God and chasing your own dreams, or are you living out God’s purpose for your life?

From the very beginning, God created humanity with a profound purpose—to represent Him on earth. He formed man and woman in His image (Genesis 1:26-27), which means we were designed to represent Him on earth and steward creation in accordance with His will. He gave us the responsibility to reflect His nature, steward creation, and walk in perfect fellowship with Him. We were made to be His ambassadors, His visible representatives in the world. This is the sacred vocation of every human.

However, humanity tragically failed in this sacred task. Instead of living for God’s will, we chose our own way, leading to separation from our Creator. 

Humanity’s Failure and the Broken Partnership

In our rebellion, we abandoned our role as God’s image-bearers. Rather than seeking His glory, we pursued selfish desires, redefined good and evil on our own terms, and built our own kingdoms instead of His. The result of choosing our own way is the moral corruption, injustice, disease, pain, wars and all the evil we see in the world today. 

The world, once designed to reflect God’s beauty and order, became marred by sin, suffering, and death. Our partnership with God was fractured, and no amount of human effort could restore what was lost.

Jesus: The Perfect Image of God

But God, in His infinite mercy, did not leave us without hope. He sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect human, to fulfill what we failed to do. Jesus lived in perfect obedience to the Father, displaying the exact representation of God’s character (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3). When Jesus was baptized, the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Unlike Adam and the rest of us who came after him, Jesus perfectly embodied what it means to be in the image of God.

Through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, Jesus reconciled the broken relationship between humanity and God. He bore the punishment for our rebellion, offering us forgiveness and a way back to our true purpose.

The Invitation to Become God’s Representatives Again

Through Jesus, we are invited to reclaim our original calling—to be God’s true representatives on earth. He gives those who trust in Him the authority to act in His name (John 14:13-14) and continue His mission of bringing God’s kingdom into the world. All those who follow Him are not just believers but ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), empowered by His Spirit to reflect His love, truth, and justice.

We are called to live lives that honor God, to serve as His hands and feet and voice, and to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Through Christ, we can now walk in the authority given to us, fulfilling what humanity was always meant to do—represent God rightly on the earth.

In practical terms, this translates to:

• Loving others: Treating people with respect and compassion, no matter their background, because every person is made in God’s image.
• Being honest and just: Living with integrity and fairness, standing up for what’s right.
• Seeking peace and reconciliation: Promoting harmony and resolution in relationships, showing God’s love in conflicts.
• Creating and nurturing: Using your talents and resources to make a positive impact on the world, whether by starting a business or building a career, just as God created and nurtures all things.
• Approaching work as a holy act of service: Approaching or viewing your legitimate business or career as a way to serve God and contribute to the well-being of creation in alignment with God’s will.

Viewing your legitimate business or career as a service to God means approaching your work with the mindset that it’s not just about personal success or financial gain, but about honoring God and serving others. It involves using your skills and resources to make a positive impact, whether through providing value, helping people, or contributing to the greater good. It’s about aligning your professional goals with God’s principles, such as integrity, compassion, and justice, and seeing your work as a way to fulfill a higher purpose, rather than just a means to an end. In this view, your business or career becomes a platform for imaging God and contributing to the well-being of others and creation.

The Consequence of Rejection

While Jesus extends this invitation to all, there is a sobering reality for those who reject it. When Jesus returns, He will come not as a suffering servant but as a righteous Judge. Those who refuse His offer of reconciliation will face the eternal consequence of their decision—separation from God forever (Matthew 25:31-46). But for those who accept Him, there is the joy of eternal fellowship with our Creator and the fulfillment of our true calling as the new human or Homo Novus as I call it, to rightfully execute God’s purposes here on earth.

A Call to Action

So, what exactly are you doing here on earth? Are you living for yourself, or are you answering the call to be God’s representative? Jesus has made a way for us to return to our original purpose. He has given us the authority to use His name, to act on His behalf, and to bring the kingdom of God to a world in desperate need of the goodness of God’s government.

Let us embrace the privilege of being God’s image-bearers once again, reflecting His goodness, love and truth in all we do. Today, Jesus invites you to step into your true role—will you accept His invitation?