What is the purpose of the human race? A description of this purpose begins in Genesis 1 and continues straight through to the last four chapters of Revelation. Genesis begins with a marriage, and Revelation ends with a marriage. The Cross itself is about a marriage. So, what's it all about?

It's all about YOU. It's about who you are. It's about where you come from. It's about your purpose. It's about your destiny. It's about your inheritance.

Human Beings Statement Of Purpose

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness….So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth" (Genesis 1:26-28)

We, human beings, were created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, we have a spirit like God has a spirit. The DNA of God was deposited in our human spirit. We have a soul that consists of our mind, our will, and our emotions. Humans have an unlimited capacity to learn. We have a full range of emotions. We were created with the ability to make decisions that affect the quality of our life and the lives of others forever. And God gave man dominion over the earth.

It's important to understand that in Genesis 1 and 2 God is deliberately revealing the blueprint of His grand plan.

The Cleaving Heart Of God

Let's look at a few of the parallels from Genesis 2. Adam is in Paradise, with all authority, and he's waiting on his bride, a partner with whom to share his authority. God says that it's not good for Adam to be alone. Likewise, God said that it was not good for Jesus to be alone in rulership. Adam had to be put to sleep, and his side was pierced, and Eve came forth.

In the same way, Jesus side was pierced, and He was put to sleep in death on the cross in order to bring forth His bride. The last four chapters of the book of Revelation are a picture of Jesus and His bride together in Paradise, and He has removed all the enemies of righteousness and love forever.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:24-25).

The story of redemption is God, in flesh, cleaving to human beings! Jesus had to leave His father in death, and we see Him cleaving to His bride in Paradise.

Can You Imagine The Human Experience Without Shame?

Verse 25 tells us that there is intimacy with no shame. There's no shame in Paradise. In Paradise Jesus will unveil His glory and our glory. Can you imagine being known as you really are and still being desired by God?

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31 - 32).

Paul quotes directly from Genesis 2 about the garden of Paradise and this cleaving with no shame. Paul says this is a great mystery: but I speak concerning the relation of Christ and the Church, the bride.

Therefore, Genesis 2 is a statement about the great mystery, the hidden plan in God's heart. Because the Adam that God is talking about in the garden is Jesus. He, Jesus, will descend to earth and He will be made of dust, and He will be pierced in His side, and out of His side will come a supernatural bride. His bride is fully restored through redemption and in resurrection they cleave to one another forever. She is desired, enjoyed, cleansed, and capable of intimacy - never shamed and never inadequate.

There is no greater statement of the unrelenting desire, love, and passion of a bridegroom God, who took upon Himself the form of a man, because He longed for a marriage partner forever. He is a God who desires you and me beyond anything that we can imagine. When, we understand that this is His heart, we will run to Him in confidence, and not from Him in shame.

Remember The Criminal Next To Jesus On The Cross?

He said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom…and Jesus said to him…today, you shall be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:39-43). To fully grasp what Jesus said we must look at John 17:24-26. Jesus was in the garden praying to His father just hours before the scene of the Cross. Jesus prayed, "Father, I desire… I want them to be with Me where I am…" Hours after this prayer Jesus hung on the cross and that prayer lingered in His spirit. The criminal believed Jesus was a righteous King. What was Jesus response to this criminal's statement of faith? "Today, you will be with Me where I am…today you will be with Me in Paradise". Oh, I love His heart!

The Criminal Is Stunned When He Found Himself In Paradise.

He died a criminal, without any money, without friends, and without honor. He was an outcast of society. Yet, he stepped across that mysterious line in physical death and found out that in Paradise he was honored like a king. Suddenly, he had no more guilt, and no more shame.

What Was That Like?

I imagine the criminal looking around and saying, 'but no one ever told me I was a king. If only I knew who I was, where I had come from, how You saw me, and where I would be going, I would not have committed the crime. I always believed in You but I thought You were angry with me because of my tendency towards sin. I tried to walk rightly, but the very things I did not want to do are the things I found myself doing. I wanted to come close to You, and to be near You. I desired fellowship with You, but I thought You only saw me as a hopeless hypocrite. I would often go to church, but I didn't feel worthy enough to participate in Worship. I was tormented by rejection, guilt, fear, and shame. I didn't know that You heard the cry of my heart to be close to You each time I miserably failed. I didn't know that You had such intense passion for me, and You pursued me even to the Cross'. The criminal looks at his robe and garments in disbelief when he finds himself in Paradise.