In the plan of the Sovereign God “time” is an
essential factor. “The LORD said to my
Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand till I
make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1). The full exaltation of Christ, the One given
the Name above all names, will happen at a time known only to God (Acts
1:6-7).
Thus Christ sits. It is the plan of His Father and the doing of
His Father. Christ has done His
work. He has been the “faithful witness”,
the faithful martyr (the Greek term
is martus). He was faithful to death, even death on the
cross (Phil. 2:8). We glory in the cross
of Christ (Gal. 6:14). We preach Christ
crucified (1 Cor. 1:23). Even in His
awesome return in glory we will see Him in a robe dipped in blood (Rev.
19:13). His blood is the one and only
reason the Church will return with Christ clothed
in fine linen, white and clean (Rev. 19:14). “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for
us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). He will for eternity be the One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood
(Rev. 1:5).
The One faithful in death is also the “firstborn
from the dead”. We must be careful here
not to become confused in the issue of “time”.
Was Jesus the first in time to
be resurrected, never again to be subject to the demands of death? Yes!
He alone broke the chains, abolishing death, and He is the firstfruits of those who sleep. But resist what might be a natural
inclination to understand “firstborn” in terms of time. It is a title used often of Christ that some
confuse as meaning He was born first in time.
Read Col. 1:15-18 where Christ is the firstborn of creation, and is yet the Creator of all things. Firstborn
speaks of preeminence as Colossians makes clear. This is the title of exaltation given to
Christ in His resurrection. The plan of
the Father is that Jesus will bear the name King of kings and Lord of lords. Having been the faithful witness, God has
begun the exaltation of His Son. This
happens in “time”. But the Word we trust
is not the revelation of “when” this will happen but that it will happen. In the estimation of the eternal God, it will
happen quickly; the time is near (Rev. 1:1-3).
Jesus Christ is called “Faithful and True”
(Rev. 19:11). He is ever “the Word of
God” (Rev. 19:13; John 1:1). When He is
revealed in all His splendor and glory, every knee shall bow and every name
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil.
2:9-11). In light of this what kind of
people ought we to be now, in this
time of our lives? Scripture constantly
connects the realities of the death, resurrection and return of Christ with our
current lifestyle. Let us conclude our
thoughts today with the word of God from 2 Cor. 5:15:
And He died
for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him
who died for them and rose again.
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