The World to Come, a Savior to Trust, Our Story to Live

Written by:Scotty Smith

Hebrews 2:5 - It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the heart liberating hope with which this text begins: There is “a world to come” that is completely under your control, filled with eternal delights and the fullness of your love. Life is not spirally out-of-control, though it often feels that way. Providence, not happenstance, rules.

⁶ But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? ⁷ You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor ⁸ and put everything under their feet.”

      In fact, the world to come is dynamically related to the world in which we live. As your sons and daughters, you created us to fill the earth with your glory. You made us stewards and gave us dominion. You called, commissioned, and blessed us. This life and this place matter. When Jesus returns, the earth will be covered and filled with the knowledge of your glory.

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.

      But things went terribly awry. We spurned your love and wrote a different story for ourselves. Instead of wanting to make your name great, we wanted to make a name for ourselves. Now, nothing is as it was meant to be. Instead of being your beloved servants in the world, we have become broken slaves to the world. Hallelujah, the story didn't end there

⁹ But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

     You are a God whose name is Redeemer--a God rich in mercy and abounding in grace. We don’t yet see the world as it will be one Day, but we do see Jesus--our substitute and Savior; our perfect righteousness and our perpetual Advocate; our reigning King and returning Lord.

Father, we praise, bless, and adore you. Things are not as they appear to the natural eye. You are in absolute control, and you love us more than we can hope or imagine. Everything is going to be way more than okay. We’re not waiting for "pie in the sky," but for Jesus on the earth. Thank you for making us characters in and carriers of your great Story of redemption and restoration. So very Amen we pray, in his triumphant and trustworthy name.