The Divine Conspiracy - Chapter 1 - Made To Rule

Reflection
Willard twist the general idea of how Christians view their lives in this section of the chapter. He writes that God has given us control over things. Even in Genesis it says how man was made to rule over all the animals and things of the Earth and to use them. But the twist with that is that we're supposed to be using them for God's kingdom, so ultimately his Kingdom is glorified. We all have a say in somethings, and someone who "doesn't have a say" is not a "person" but a "passive observer that makes no difference." Ouch.

In a way, Willard is referring to God's relationship with us as adults raising kids; at some point, you have to let them interact with the world, let them learn on their own. And as we learn, and as we rule, we should do so in unity with God.

"Now, what we can do by our unassisted strength is very small. What we can do acting with mechanical, electrical or atomic power is much greater. Often what can be accomplished is so great that is hard to believe. But what we can do with these things is still very small compared to what we could be doing in union with God Himself who created and ultimately controls other forces" (page 22)

Since the separation of God and man, we have become selfish with things, and have ultimately separated from each other, and the world is affected negatively and greatly on that aspect. But God is not limited within our hearts, he works beyond ourselves to get into our hearts rather, and then work through them.

We must finally realize that Jesus didn't come to bring the kingdom of Heaven to earth, he just made the kingdom accessible from earth without having to sacrifice animals and such, and showed us how man was originally supposed to live (Son of Man). And now that we have that accessibility, we should use what we rule in unity with God so our kingdom may grow. But we start out small, being responsible for only so many things. And with that responsibility we prove, our kingdoms grow. And with great power comes great responsibility.

See - Matthew 25, Luke 16:1-12, John 5:17-19