Creation - God created all ex nihilo - from nothing and declared it “very good”) (Genesis 1:31).

Fall - The first man, Adam, and woman, Eve, rebelled against the loving command of God and plunged all humanity into sin, alienation, and condemnation (judgment). The Fall establishes the terrible problem that the rest of Scripture is written to address.

Redemption - God established a sacrificial system that prefigures the fulfillment of all promises in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is the eternal God and the Lamb of God who covers our sins by His substitutionary sacrifice.

Restoration - In Christ, we live in the “already but not yet." There is real and substantial healing in the present context because of our union with Christ, but complete and perfect restoration awaits in the New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21-22) when Jesus comes again.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."  1 Peter 4:10-11

"Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."  2 Corinthians 3:15-16, 4:3-6

“There's not a square inch in the whole domain of our existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, mine!”  Abraham Kuiper

“All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Every means and method used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration (new birth) of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ.”  Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article 15, The Christian and the Social Order

The Kingdom of God is the King’s power, over the King’s people, in a particular place.

HOW DO WE LIVE AS EXILES:

Vocation is the calling to glorify/honor God and serve others by living with beauty (good) and accountability (stewards) (1 Peter 4:10).

GENERAL PRINCIPALS:

1. When we seek the welfare of others in the name of Christ, then we are blessed as well. Welfare = Shalom.

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."  Jeremiah 29:7

“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight… Shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight - a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be… The full flourishing of human life in all aspects, as God intended it to be.”  Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be

2. In seeking the well-being/flourishing/Shalom of others, I am called to live as a laborer before God (Colossians 3:22-24).

3. Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce (Jeremiah 29:5).

"When a father washes diapers or performs some other task for his child - though the Father is acting in the spirit of Christian faith…God, with all His angels and creatures, is smiling– not because that Father is washing diapers (necessarily), but because he's doing so in Christian faith. Those who sneer at him and see only the task but not the faith are ridiculing God with all his creatures, as the biggest fool on earth (in doing so they show themselves to be) nothing but the devil's fools.”  Martin Luther, Estate of Marriage

4. I ultimately live before an audience of One (verse 11b). 

Corollary 1: I must always remember the plot line of the redemptive message of Christ that leads to restoration (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). 

Corollary 2: "…there is a glorious accounting that awaits where we can 'hear well done, good and faithful servant' (Matthew 25:14-30)."

POINTS TO PONDER:

1. We are all called and commissioned as disciples, which includes our vocation.

2. Commissioned accountants, mechanics, teachers, attorneys, and homemakers, etc. have a calling that is as important as cross-cultural workers (missionaries) or pastors. There is no “priest/laity split” (see the reformation).

3. Where are you in the plot line in the present context in this day?