The World to Come

Thursday, October 18, 2012, 7:58 a.m. – When I sat down to have my quiet time with the Lord today, he put the song “Only Trust Him” in my mind.

Only Trust Him / John Hart Stockton

Come, ev'ry soul by sin oppressed

There's mercy with the Lord,

And He will surely give you rest

By trusting in His Word.

For Jesus shed His precious blood,

Rich blessings to bestow;

Plunge now into the crimson flood

That washes white as snow.

Yes, Jesus is the Truth, the Way,

That leads you into rest;

Believe in Him without delay

And you are fully blest.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

Only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Hebrews 2:5-18 (NIV 1984):

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is man that you are mindful of him,

    the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the angels;

    you crowned him with glory and honor

    and put everything under his feet.”

In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers;

    in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.”

And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

In Subjection

When God created man (see Genesis 1), he made man in God’s likeness, and he gave man the responsibility to rule over all the earth and over all the other created things on the earth. God blessed mankind and commanded them to “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” Yet Adam and Eve sinned against God, so they were banished from the Garden of Eden, and they were given punishment for having disobeyed God – punishment that has continued to this day, and that will not be relieved until Jesus Christ returns to judge and to rule the earth. The woman would suffer pain in childbearing, and her husband would rule over her. To the man he said that the ground would be cursed and that through painful toil he would eat of it all the days of his life (see Genesis 3). Yet, it appears God still left the earth and all the other created things on the earth in subjection to man. Yet, is this what this passage in Hebrews is talking about?

Superior to the Angels

In Hebrews 1 we read about Jesus Christ, God’s Son – God the Son. He was fully God yet fully man when he lived upon the earth. He died for our sins, he rose from the grave, he ascended into heaven, and there he sits at the right hand of God the Father. So he became superior to the angels, and all the angels in heaven worship him, because he is God. God the Father spoke of his Son’s throne that would last forever, and of his kingdom. He spoke of Jesus Christ as the creator of the universe. The works of his hands will one day perish. He will roll them up like a robe, but Jesus Christ will remain the same and his years will never end. God the Father told Jesus to sit at his right hand until he makes his enemies a footstool at his feet. Clearly Jesus Christ, God the Son, is pictured here as not only God, and creator of the universe, but as one under whom all things are in subjection and will be seen to be completely in subjection when Christ returns as judge and as ruler and King of the earth.

Then, at the beginning of Hebrews 2 it speaks of our salvation, which was first announced by Jesus Christ. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, etc. It also speaks of a day of divine judgment yet to come in which those who have drifted away from the truth they have heard, and who have ignored their great salvation, will receive their just punishment (eternal damnation; eternity without God), but those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will receive their heavenly rewards. It is at this time that God will make Christ’s enemies a footstool at his feet, and truly all things will be seen to be in subjection to him.

The World to Come

So, this leads into today’s passage where it says, “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.” Ok, the author of Hebrews said two things here that jumped out at me: 1) “The world to come,” and 2) “About which we are speaking.” So, what is the world that is to come? And, what has the author of Hebrews been speaking about so far? Clearly he is talking about the time when Jesus Christ will come again to earth, only this time not as a human baby in subjection to his parents, but as King of kings and as Lord of lords, to reign and to rule the earth. All things will then be seen to be in complete subjection to him, not that all things are not presently in subjection to him, but at that time every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

While it is true that mankind was made a little lower than the angels, and that all the earth and all created things upon the earth were put in subjection to him, the book of Hebrews is a book about Jesus Christ, declaring him to the Hebrews to be their long-awaited promised Messiah and King. So, when the author of Hebrews quoted Psalm 8, he was speaking about Jesus Christ who was made a little lower than the angels because he came to the earth and took on human flesh and became God-Man. He was crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death on the cross for our sins, and everything is and will be put under his feet.

Yet, in the same respect, this passage does speak of “many sons” who have been brought to glory, i.e. speaking of all of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and as Savior of our lives. We have become co-heirs with Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters with the Lord, and children of God. One day, in the world to come, we will rule and will reign with him, and all created things will be under subjection to us, as well, though we will all be in subjection to Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.

Shared Humanity

Jesus Christ became human flesh, not only so that he could become our perfect lamb sacrifice for our sins, taking upon himself the sins of the entire world, but so that he could feel what we feel, and so he could become our compassionate and merciful high priest (mediator between us and God the Father). He not only died to save us from slavery to sin and to free us from eternal damnation, as well as to give us new lives in Jesus Christ, but he became human so that he could go through the same kinds of sufferings and temptations that we face all the time, only he remained sinless. So, when we are going through difficulties, we know we have a God who has been there, truly, and he does understand what we are going through from personal experience. Awesome! Isn’t it wonderful when you or I are going through something, and we can be encouraged by someone else who has also gone through the same thing but who made it through?

When Jesus Christ died for our sins, he destroyed him who holds the power of death, namely the devil, Satan, the evil one. When we are in Christ Jesus through faith in Him (via repentance and obedience), Satan no longer holds any power over us. Oh, how I wish all believers in Jesus Christ would believe this! So many live as though Satan still has a hold on their lives and that they are somehow helpless in his grasp to escape the sins that so easily entangle them. Yet, Jesus set us free! He conquered Satan! We just have to believe it! And, we have to appropriate that belief to our lives by not giving in to Satan when he tempts us, but instead to call upon the One who has been tempted in every way in which we are tempted, yet without sin. He is able to help us, and he will provide a way out from underneath the temptation if we will cooperate with his plan.

So, there you have it! No more excuses! God has provided the way out through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is up to you to choose to accept Jesus Christ by faith to free you from slavery to sin and to the hold of Satan on your life, or to continue down a path that leads to destruction. Which will you choose? Will you make him Lord (boss) and Savior of your life today?

A Believer’s Prayer / An Original Work / July 31, 2012

With my whole heart,

Lord, I pray to be Yours,

And Yours always.

Lead me in Your truth today.

May I love You, and obey.

Lead me in Your righteousness.

When I sin, may I confess;

Bow before You when I pray;

Live for You and You always.

Love You, Jesus,

You’re my friend.

Life with You will never end.

You are with me through each day,

Giving love and peace always.

You will ne’er abandon me.

From my sin You set me free.

You died on that cruel tree,

So I’d live eternally.

Soon You’re coming back for me;

From this world to set me free;

Live with You eternally.

Oh, what joy that brings to me.

I will walk with You in white;

A pure bride,

I’ve been made right

By the blood of Jesus Christ;

Pardoned by His sacrifice.

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