Men were made for work, for protection, and for rescue. When we look at the imago Dei, the glorious truth that we are made in the image of God, I fear we miss much when we describe it in terms of abilities. That is, while it is true that God wills and man wills, that God feels and man feels, that God thinks and man thinks, the connection runs deeper. It is grounded in telos, purpose, design. We reflect God’s glory also in our calling. The dominion mandate, the call to man to be fruitful and multiply, to rule over the creation, is a reflection of God in His act of creation.
Adam and Eve were placed in paradise and commanded to protect that garden, and to “gardenize” the “jungle” beyond. The garden was the model, the world outside it the calling. Our first parents were given every perfect gift- the garden itself, the “jungle” devoid of thistles and thorns, each other, and best of all the presence of God Himself, walking with them in the cool of the evening. They failed, plunging creation, themselves, and all who would come after into utter ruin.
The promise of the coming Seed of the Woman wasn’t plan B, but was instead the new plan to complete plan A. The Second Adam would not merely save us from the just penalty for our sins, but would complete what the first Adam failed to do. The redeemed, the bride, the Second Eve would be a helper suitable for Him. The dominion mandate would be fulfilled, but this time in the context of curse rather than blessing. Adam had every blessing, every advantage. Jesus, on the other hand, faced a humanly impossible task. But He won, and is recreating creation, us, and as many as are afar off.
All it took was taking flesh and dwelling with us. All it took was speaking truth, being despised. All it took was taking on an all out assault from the devil himself in the desert, and the full assault of the demonic realm at every turn. All it took was betrayal by His closest friends. All it took was the horror of death by crucifixion. None of which is worthy compared with this- all it took was for the wrath and fury of His own Father due to us for our rebellion to fall upon Him. All it took was descending into hell.
When I consider how unworthy I am, when I fear He would grow weary of carrying me, I return to this thought. He did not go through all this to abandon me. If ever a person should have confidence that His rescuer will never give up, it is I, who have been so painfully rescued. I am called to not neglect so great a salvation, which means in turn that I am called to believe that He will never neglect His great salvation of me. Jesus won me. He will not lose me. Because Jesus always wins. He is even now about the business of changing everything.