We have heard the mantra of President Trump: “Make America Great Again.” I love his vision. When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined his team, he came up with the slogan, “Make America Healthy Again.” Love it.
Combining both visions is an excellent way to begin your new year. Why not make our communities in the United States as great as they can be? Why not make ourselves healthy in every area of our lives?
This involves being committed to greatness. What a worthy and noble goal for our lives this year. Let’s be as healthy, vibrant, and dynamic as God created us to be.
The Original Great Commission
God wants all of us to be great in His eyes. When God created humankind, male and female, He created all of us to be great. He created us to take dominion over our lives. This is the original great commission for His image bearers,
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28)
God created each of us to take dominion over our earth. He didn’t send angels to do it. He made us male and female and gave us a commission to fulfill. The fulfillment of this commission was for us to bear His image all over the earth.
I have always believed that this commission begins with each individual taking dominion over their own lives first. This means being as healthy as we can be spiritually, emotionally, mentally, relationally, and physically. It’s in taking ownership of our individual lives that we show the image of God to others. God is healthy. And He gave us His mandate to fulfill by being the healthy image bearers of His kingdom.
So, this year, in 2025, take inventory of your life and ask the question “Am I as healthy as God desires for me to be?” Evaluate your life. If there are some changes you need to make, then consider making those changes. Some might call this new year’s resolutions, but a better phrase might be new year’s convictions.
Pastor Steve
