Our Purpose Realized

We do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
–Hebrews 2:9

In Hebrews 2, the writer helps Christians understand how our purpose will one day be realized. He said in verse 9, “We do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels . . . because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” He was saying: “Christians, even though you can’t yet see the marvelous future God has for you, just look at Christ, because what happened to him is going to happen to you one day. Yes, for a little while Christ was lower than the angels. He went through terrible suffering, unfair treatment, and was crucified and put in a grave. But on the third day He was raised from the dead, and God has now put all things in subjection under his feet.” In 1 Corinthians 15:22 Paul said, “As in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

If you want to get a hint of what your future is, just look at what happened to Jesus. The moment you become a Christian, you tie your future to His future. Whatever happens to Jesus is going to happen to you if you are in Christ. And even though right now your life is filled with difficulties and uncertainties, the Bible says you are of great value to God. Your present condition does not reveal your true worth.

This reminds me of a story about a man named Bob, who was a connoisseur of garage sales. One Saturday morning, Bob was making his rounds and noticed an old Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He asked the owner how much he would sell it for. $35 was the answer. Bob bought it and brought it home. The next day he called Harley-Davidson to see what some of the parts would cost. The clerk asked for the serial number. Bob waited a long time before the clerk returned to the phone. “Sir, I am going to have to call you back. May I please have your name and address and telephone number?” Bob nervously gave it to him, wondering what was wrong. Had the bike been stolen or involved in a crime? A few days later, he received a call from an executive with Harley. He asked Bob to remove the bike seat to see if anything was written underneath it. Yes, Bob said–“The King.” The executive said: Bob, my boss has authorized me to offer you $300,000 for that motorcycle. Bob was stunned. The next day Bob got a call from Jay Leno, who offered Bob half a million dollars for the bike. The bike Bob had redeemed from the scrap heap had belonged to the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley. The bike was of incredible value not because of its present condition but because of whom it had belonged to.

If you are a Christian, you are of incredible value because you belong to the King. And even though your life in its present condition may be filled with distress and difficulties and doubt and even disobedience, God promises that one day He will restore you to your original condition.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “The Parable Of The Lottery Ticket” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2013.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.