Fill the Earth

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. – Habakkuk 2:14

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.  – Numbers 14:21

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?

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 intended to be – existing to make known the glory of the Lord. As we dig into a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father, we are changed from the inside out and we become full of light and knowledge: “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 Cor. 4:6).

God’s glory by nature is never stagnant, and as Jesus followers who are being transformed to be like Him more and more every day, we are part of His plan to fill the earth. To fill the earth means to have a global vision and to invade the world with the Glory of the Creator.

Filling the earth has two dimensions: first, it means that humans who are created in the image and likeness of God are meant to populate the entire earth; second, these same people are compelled to reflect the Glory of the Creator throughout the earth wherever they are.  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. Where can you go and bring the kingdom?  Remember that as Great Commission companies you are called to “go into all the earth.”

Of course, even though all of humanity reflects the physical image and likeness of God, this does not mean that all reflect His Glory due to sin. This is where kingdom companies come in.  As a part of your organization’s global strategy, you ought to be intentional about reflecting God’s glory – increasing God’s reign and rule – not just increasing your global footprint or having a global market presence.  .  This must 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:

1. It must be more than simply increasing market share or our 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 mercy and justice 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.
7. We must remember that we are not citizens of this world, but of heaven; therefore, where ever we are, we represent the interest of heaven and not our own.

A note of caution: This should not give us a license to dispose others by force or to bring harm to others. Rather it gives us the license to bring God’s glory in every part of the earth that all creatures may know that He is Lord.  This is best done through our influence and not through control.  Our presence gives us the opportunity to influence and to demonstrate 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)

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