Fill the Earth

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

What does it mean for the earth to be filled with the Lord’s glory?
How can we be part of God’s plan to make this happen?

Fill the Earth

God’s heart for His creation is for His sons and daughters to know Him intimately, and for the entire earth to be as it was originally intended to be – existing to make known the glory of the Lord. 

As we develop a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father, we are changed from the inside out, and we become full of the light and knowledge of Him, and also, we are changed from glory to glory. 

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 4:6 (NKJV)

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. – 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

God’s glory by nature is never stagnant, and as Jesus’ followers who are being transformed to become more like Him every day, we are part of His plan to fill the earth with His glory. 

“Filling the earth” has two dimensions. First, it means that humans who are created in the image and likeness of God are meant to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28), filling the entire earth. Second, these same people are to reflect the Glory of the Creator throughout the earth.  

With this in mind, one way to fill the earth with God’s glory is to have a global vision from Him, and then to go into the world and fill it with the Glory of the Creator by being present in the world as His glory-filled ambassadors. As a believer in Jesus, you bring the kingdom of God to earth by being filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit wherever you are. 

Don’t limit yourself only to the community or the country where you started your business, but consider other countries and locations, expanding and extending the Kingdom of God through your presence and influence.  Remember that as “Great Commission Companies”, you are called to go into all the earth.

Of course, even though all of humanity was originally created in the image and likeness of God, because of sin, it is only those who have been born again who once again have the potential to reflect His Glory. This is why Kingdom companies are so vital.  

Your organization’s global strategy should not only be concerned with increasing your profit margins, global footprint, or global market presence. Additionally, you should be deliberate and intentional about utilizing your business to reflect God’s glory and increase His Kingdom influence, reign, and rule within your sphere of influence. This will be reflected in how we conduct our business, how we treat our employees, customers, and vendors, and how we invest our profits and engage with others around the world.

To fill the earth in a way that God’s glory is revealed throughout the earth, we must keep the following in mind when building and conducting our business :

1. Our goals must extend beyond simply increasing our market share or global footprint.
2. We must be intentional about reflecting God’s will in how we conduct our business and invest our resources.
3. We cannot be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
4. We must love biblical mercy and justice (Micah 6:8) and defend those in need of defending, regardless of whether they are Christians or not.
5. We must be committed to investing our time, talent, and treasure in people and institutions that are committed to reflecting God’s will throughout the earth.
6. We must learn how to be all things to all people (1 Corinthians 9:22).
7. We must remember that we are not citizens of this world, but of heaven (Philippians 3:20); therefore, wherever we are, we represent the interests of heaven and not our own.

Filling the earth with the Glory of God is demonstrated to the world through Christlikeness, positive influence and example, and servant leadership. It is never to be done through manipulation, force, or control.  Our presence in the world gives us the opportunity to reveal the Glory of the Savior.

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 28:18-19 (NKJV)

My prayer for you today is that you would continue to spread the Glory of God throughout the whole earth, and that as you do, you would become more and more like Him each day.