In the sermon 'Taking Dominion in Babylon' by Tom Ascol, the speaker emphasizes the timeless responsibility of God's people to exercise dominion and honor Him, regardless of their circumstances or location. Drawing from Jeremiah's letter to the Israelites in Babylon, Ascol underscores that being made in the image of God entails a duty to utilize the world for His glory. This responsibility is rooted in the original commission given to humanity in the Garden of Eden, which involves being fruitful and multiplying. The sermon encourages believers to remain mindful of their divine purpose and to fulfill their duties in everyday life, even when situated in foreign or challenging environments.

I think Jeremiah's letter and his charge to the people in Babylon is simply a reminder that we are people made in the image of God. We are living in God's world and he has given us the responsibility to take this world and to utilize it for his glory. So the very first commission that he gave to mankind in the Garden of Eden was very much the same thing, that we are to exercise dominion, that we are to be fruitful and multiply. And so that doesn't change depending upon your locality. It just depends how you'll go about trying to fulfill that.

And I think that's what Jeremiah's letter actually says to the children of Israel in Babylon. It says, hey, remember that you're God's people. You're made in His image. And you have a responsibility while you are here to honor Him in the very basic things of life.