City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 

–Hebrews 2:5-8 ESV

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 

–Genesis 1:26-27 ESV

So it is written [in Scripture], “The first man , Adam, became a living soul (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life]. 

–1 Corinthians 15:45 AMP

Aisha’s Analysis

Today’s passage from Hebrews sets the record straight as to who is in charge: “Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him” (Hebrews 2:8). 

While this text clearly depicts that everything is in subjection to him [Jesus], it also illustrates that we are living in a tension of already and not yet. While everything is ultimately in subjection to Christ, we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him. 

Don’t you just love how incredibly real the Bible keeps it? Here it is in black and white: God is not giving rulership of this world to the heavenly host (angels), nor to fallen man who were the descendants of Adam and brought death into the world, but to none other than Jesus. He is the “Last Adam,” who tasted death and conquered it. 

Christ’s victory over death hinged on His willingness to choose suffering and death so that He might obey God even to the point of death on a cross. Similarly, our victory in Christ as His followers unfolds as we submit to Him in hardship. 

Even though we do not currently see everything under subjection to Christ, we do see that Christ models His leadership to us by subjecting Himself to suffering so He can fulfill God’s plan and purpose for His life. This gives us a really good reason to live in the tension of already and not yet: 

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

–Romans 8:16-17 ESV

Our glorification in Christ is tied to our willingness to endure suffering and hardship to fulfill God’s purposes and advance His Kingdom on earth. This is ultimately how we see Christ’s rulership displayed – by a humble willingness to obey God no matter the cost. 

Application

If you find yourself frustrated or impatient about a particular matter that’s not yet fulfilled in your life, chances are you might be dodging a type of suffering that our Father in heaven is beckoning you to endure for His sake.

Does God take pleasure in our pain? Absolutely not! But will He allow us to go through painful situations to develop the kind of character that can sustain His blessings? Emphatically yes!

Do not waste a single moment wondering why something is taking so long or trying to force an outcome that is just not working. Allow yourself to suffer any momentary discomfort by focusing on the joy of your relationship with God and everything that it entails. 

Prayer

Father God, I thank You that I already have the victory of an eternity with You through my relationship with Christ. Help me to remember that timeless truth every time I encounter a situation that I do not yet see under Your subjection. Help me to live in this present moment with eternity in mind. In Jesus’ Name, amen.