Economic Growth (3)
But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2.8, 9
Never out of sight
In the halcyon days of Marxism-Leninism, you could easily tell whether the nation you might be visiting was committed to the communist cause.
In just about every public place, some picture, statue, or caricature of the “Great Leader” would confront your wondering eyes. Whether it was of Lenin, Stalin, Castro, Mao, Che, or any of the other pantheon of now-discredited demigods, the larger-than-life representations of their images were always a prominent feature of communist public life.These images of the great thinkers or dictators of Marxist-Leninist thought were meant to accomplish two purposes, one inspiring and one intimidating. By placing these icons in various public places, communist leaders hoped to inspire their people with the memory and example of their Great Leader—his vaunted courage, vision, and determination above all. Thus, they would learn to be content with their lot and take up their role in the communist economy as dutiful workers.
If the people were not inspired by these icons, they would at least have been intimidated, for the many depictions of communist leaders in public places served to remind the people that, in a very real sense, they were never out of sight of the Great Leader—or, at least, of his informants.
Our Great Leader
The writer of the book of Hebrews understood the psychology of this. But his observation that we see Jesus Christ, exalted at the right hand of God, is much more powerful and, if we will engage it, more effective in helping the followers of Christ grow and advance the Kingdom economy.
Jesus Christ is exalted at the right hand of God. He has overcome death and the grave, so we no longer fear these constant threats (Heb. 2.15; 1 Cor. 15.53-57). He is clothed in splendor and glory and strength and light, and God the Father is putting all His enemies under His feet, increasingly, with each passing day (cf. Ps. 110). At the Father’s right hand, Jesus intercedes for us, seeking the strength and provision of His Father and ours to meet our every need through His own riches in glory.
From His position of power, the Lord Jesus gives us His Spirit without measure and sends His angels to watch over us all day long. Further, He is putting all His enemies under His feet and, thus, clearing the way for us to advance the divine economy with maximum efficiency and effects.
The eye of the heart
But in what sense do we actually “see” Jesus like this?
Only with the eye of the heart (as the Greek puts it), as Paul explains in Ephesians 1.18. Jesus is truly seated at the Father’s right hand, radiant in beauty, matchless in power, and doing all these wonderful and glorious things on our behalf. We cannot see Him with the eye of flesh. But we can see Him with the eye of the heart, the eye of faith, the eye of understanding, which gathers all the many snapshots and reports of Christ exalted, scattered throughout the Word of God, and pieces them together into a living portrait of glory, power, and rule to guide our thinking and action day by day.
Paul commands us to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God,” and to “Set your minds on things above” (Col. 3.1, 2). This is no idle exhortation, but an invitation to see, like the prophet Elisha (2 Kgs. 6.16, 17), beyond the veil that separates time from eternity, the material from the spiritual world, into the very throne room of Christ, where, astonishingly, we discover ourselves to be seated with Him in glory (Eph. 2.6).
With our outlook on life informed by the vision of Christ exalted, and all our daily endeavors lit by His Word and empowered by His Spirit, we can expect that, increasingly, the reality of His rule and the progress of His economy, will be evident in all our words and deeds, in every area of our lives. Because the more we gaze on His glory, the more we become like Him, and, becoming like Him, the more we can turn our world rightside-up for Him (2 Cor. 3.12-18).No, the followers of Christ have not, as of this moment, managed to order all of life and creation according to the good and upright plan of God.
But we’re working on, bit by bit, day by day.
For we know Jesus, and we are daily working to grow in our relationship with Him. And if, knowing Him, we can learn to see Him, to set our minds on the vision of Christ exalted, that prospect, that vantage point will increasingly affect the way we live, even in the most everyday activities of our lives.
For reflection or discussion
1. What are some ways the Scriptures present Jesus for us to “see” (cf. Pss. 47, 110; Dan. 7.13-18; etc.)?
2. What is the “eye of the heart” or the “eye of understanding”? How does it work? How well does it work in you?
3. What does it mean to “set your mind” on the things of Christ? How can believers help one another in doing this?
Next steps—Preparation: How clear and compelling is your vision of Christ exalted in glory? How often do you set your mind on this glorious vision? Start your day meditating on Jesus, exalted in glory.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast pushes on through our readings from Joy to Your World!. Our Crosfigell teaching letter continues its brief series on the early 6th-century Irish saint, Coemgen. In our daily Scriptorium column, we are working our way through Matthew’s gospel, studying the coming of the Kingdom of God. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
