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Looking to the Future

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As another year becomes history, we are again reminded of the brevity of life; our lives pass as quickly as a mist of steam (James 4:14). Compared to the Lord, who is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2), our days are but a handbreadth (Psalm 39:5). We must “redeem” or “buy up” the time we have here on earth, using our time wisely (Ephesians 5:16). How can we do this?

First of all, we cannot redeem the time by idly wishing we had more time without changing our priorities. Many people wish they had more time, but how do they spend the time they have? Martha thought she had to get things accomplished around the house before she could listen to Jesus, but Mary decided to listen to Jesus first before serving around the house (Luke 10:40-42). These sisters had the same opportunities, but they chose differently. We decide how we spend much of our time. How will you spend your time in 2016? You can spend it doing what you think you have to do, or what others think you should do, but do not forget that you have the choice to use it doing what God wants you to do.

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Another consideration to help us redeem the time is to not allow the past to rob us of our future. In Philippians 3, Paul speaks briefly of his past life. His advancement in Judaism brought him to a level unequaled by his contemporaries. He could have rested on his laurels so to speak and said he had accomplished enough in religious service. When Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus, he could have responded by claiming he was too deep in the religious group that opposed Christ to turn from it. But he didn’t. While Paul mentioned the past from time to time, he did not allow his past persecution of the church to cripple him with depression. Instead he said, “this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). When we dwell on past mistakes we give them the power to rob more of our time: our present and future. Let us not be debilitated by what we have been in the past, but be encouraged by what we can be in the future. We must move onward and upward in 2016.

Finally, we must consider that not every moment of 2016 will be rosy for us. Perhaps something may happen to us that will change us forever. Truly, none of us know what awaits us. Will suffering come our way? Perhaps. If it does we must be resolute that we will be faithful to the Lord. God has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but that does not mean that Christians face no trouble. God made life to test our faith. He keeps the future from us so that we will cling to Him and serve Him out of love. If we knew the future, we would try to control each situation we would face to avoid all pain, instead of trusting in the Lord day by day. “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him” (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Whatever 2016 holds for you, determine that you will trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).

-Mark Day

The Son of Man Glorified

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Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” nearly 80 times in the gospel accounts. This expression certainly connotes His humanity, that He became a man (Philippians 2:7); however, closer inspection of the term shows its association with His heavenly glory rather than His earthly birth.
The last occurrence of Jesus referring to Himself as “Son of Man” in John’s Gospel is found in verse 31 of chapter 13, where He said, “Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” Judas had just departed from the company. Now that the betrayal was underway, events were set in motion that would soon lead to the great saving act of Christ dying on Calvary’s cross. Jesus understood this sequence of events; He had forewarned His disciples about it (Matthew 16:21; 20:19). A set of savagely sinful acts was to follow, perpetrated by Judas, the Jewish religious leaders, Pilate, and the Roman soldiers. This is not to mention the cowardice shown by followers of the Lord. Jesus’ death on the cross would upon first inspection seem like the very opposite of glory, but as we look back with the eye of faith and look at that man hanging there we see a humble glory. Christ’s glory is seen on the cross in that He stoops to this depth to save mankind and glorify the Father, whose will He is determined to do at all costs.
What followed was the exaltation of Christ through His resurrection and ascension (Philippians 2:8-9). God’s redemptive plan was accomplished. More than 600 years beforehand, God showed through His prophet Daniel that the Son of Man would accomplish God’s redemptive work on earth:
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I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14

In this prophetic glimpse, the Son of Man is coming to God (the Ancient of days), returning to heaven after His work on earth was done. God gave this One in human form, the Son of Man, dominion, glory, a kingdom that all people should serve Him. Thus, we see why Jesus used the title Son of Man, for it referred to Daniel 7:13-14, a synopsis of the glory that would come after He humbled Himself to the deepest depths to redeem His people and establish His kingdom.
The church of Christ is His kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13, 18). In the church, glory is given to Christ throughout all ages (Ephesians 3:21). Much of the world may be more aware this week of His birth, but as the church let us remember that we have come together today to declare His death wherein the Son of Man is glorified (1 Corinthians 11:26). The panorama of what Christ has done for us, including His work in creation, in the Old Testament, His birth, His life, His teachings and ministry, His death, His burial, His resurrection, His ascension, His coronation as our King, and His continual service as our High Priest, is a picture that we all should step back and take in. It will change our lives so that we are ready for the last day when the Son of Man shall come in His glory to judge the world (Matthew 25:31; John 5:26-29).

-Mark Day