It may be an interesting study of man to determine what his ultimate purpose is when Adam was created by God, but I beleive the course of all history is based on a singular test and trial in our free will to determine the fate of each one of us when we stand before the Throne of God on Judgment Day.
To understand the core of the choice all men must make, we need to determine the ground rules. First, what is that choice, and second what are the mechanisms that place us in the postion to make the choice that will destermine our fate at the end of our lives. The choice of course springs from a single concept, but in God's creation for obedience in this concept, two distinct creations initially failed. They were Lucifer, and Adam.
So what is the concept? The concept is the acceptance of God as God and creator, and for those who are the created beings to acknowledge this and live accordingly in obedience. Lucifer was a Cherbim who in the books of Isiah and Ezekiel tell the story of him as a 'covering on the throne room' of God. His purpose was to be the vessel in which praise and worship from the entire universe came to him to be given to God. It is said that Lucifer was created with many gems of different colors, and had the articles of tabrets (colorful praise hoops) and pipes (orafices of many melodies) to accomplish this purpose. He was also given authority over one-third of the angels of heaven to go out into the universe and bring the praise and prayers to Lucifer to ultimately bring to God.
However, Lucifer grew spiteful and proud in his exalted position and eventually determined that he was a god on par with the Most Holy, and sought to be like Him. This of course was his downfall, and it says in the Book of Isiah that he was cast onto the earth to become the spiritual being that we know as the 'principality of the air'.
So now God needed to fill the void that Lucifer originally was created for. So God made man (Adam), and in the Hebrew it says that when He blew breath into man he became a 'Living Soul'. The term used in the Hebrew is nephesh and is found in the original scrolls of the Book of Genesis. Man did not originally contain a soul as we do today, but was instead a living soul with powers that were created to serve God's purpose.
But once again, albeit through the deception of the one that Adam was created to replace, God's created being sought to be like God by disobeying His commandment not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When Adam did this, he separated himself by choice from God and became a flesh and blood being that could no longer be in the Garden as a spiritual creature. So God, as He did with Lucifer, cast man out onto the earth to fulfill His intended purpose.
How do we know ultimately that this was God's intended purpose for man? Take a look at Luke 19:37-40. When the disciples were praising God for the miracles they had seen, the Pharasees questioned Jesus and were answered, if you stop them (man) from praising God, then the very rocks will sing out in praise to Him. Somewhere, somehow, all of God's creations will sing praise to Him... no matter what.
So we know the purpose, but what of the choice? Although God sent man into a trial on the earth to redeem himself for the choice he had made to become God, the day would come where He would send His Son to atone for that disobedience through the sacrafice and shedding of blood. This is a free gift to all of mankind, but there is a catch... and THIS is the determining factor on whether you will go to heaven or hell. You must accept and acknowledge in your heart that YOU (man) is not God, and that we are created beings OF God, and accept His authority. In the teachings of repentence, there isnt just a one-sided part where God forgives you of your sin, you must also acknowledge and 'turn-from' your sin and realize the true course and road we are to take.
Today, there is that single concept that is inherent in every single issue and cause we face. The argument of evolution is based on man control of his own destiny, or is God the Creator. Abortion is based on man controlling his own choice of procreation, or is he obedient to God being the Creator and following when He says to replenish the earth. Even in churches today, are Pastors and congregations obedient when they choose to go to man's Doctors and synthetic medicines when God outlines immutablly how to heal ourselves spirit, soul, and body in His teachings.
The core of whether you will go to heaven or hell is based on one single thing. The acknowledgment that we (man) is not God, and that Jesus is the God and Creator.
Ken Schortgen Jr
23 Jan 2007