But We Don't See It Yet

Hebrews 1-2

We want to see what is right prevail. What want to see good overcome evil. We want there to be a connection between justice and mercy. More than karma, we want grace to have the last word on our lives.

For Christians, our story includes the command of God to have dominion over the Earth, to steward it for his glory and our joy. Unfortunately, in the past few hundred years, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, we've increased our pollution of the land and famines for the poorest of the world. Christians are struggling with how to exert power and authority such that everyone on earth gets enough to eat and drink. We strive for a solution, but we don't see it yet.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews was a witness to the life and way of Jesus. For him, in the midst of the mighty Roman Empire, he still didn't see yet the blessed dominion of man over the earth. Instead, he saw crucifixion beams and besieged, bloodied cities. But he did see Jesus. And he was compelled to come to terms with the words and works of Jesus. How to make sense of them - either Jesus was a liar, a lunatic, or Lord.

We want Jesus to return soon, to make things right on the earth. We want Jesus to lead us so that the righteous prosper and the wicked are disciplined. We want Jesus to bring healing and restoration to broken peoples and polluted lands. But we don't see it yet. Not completed, at least. But the work has begun, if you have eyes to see it.

Where does wickedness come from? Where does the desire to hurt people and desecrate the land come from? The religious term for it is sin. Evil. And if only someone could break the corruptible power of sin, it's expressions of lust and greed, pride and envy.

Ah - but there is someone who claimed to overcome the reign of evil. It's what Jesus did on the cross and through the resurrection. And the rewards of that sacrifice are available to us. To those that believe it is possible. Even if we don't see it completed yet.

Unlike the author of Hebrews, we did not witness the life of Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection. We did not hear his words, did not watch him at work. But the influence of Jesus is still here. Jesus is still at work, breaking the power of sin in our lives, subverting the power of evil in society. 

He knows what it is like to be one of us, to be crushed by opposition, to be hated for being right and truth-full. Jesus is our example for how to live in this darkened world. But he is also our Savior - the one who rescued us from the power of darkness and grants us light to see and love and follow Him.