THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
by Given O. Blakely
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GOD HAS SPOKEN THROUGH HIS SON, #2
                         AND WHAT OF THE SON?
   Because this is intended to be an overview, we will not only introduce these remarkable aspects of the
Lord Jesus. Candidly, this is exceedingly difficult for me. I have confidence that you will pursue the
implications of these things on your own, thereby deriving the meat of the text. When it comes to the
consideration of the Lord Jesus Christ, we stand in the Holy of Holies. There is no more lofty
consideration than this! We will find the Father has placed everything in the hands of the Son, then given
Him to us as Head of all things! This is intended to build your confidence, and encourage you to run an
effective race, fight a good fight, and finish the course that has been set before you by Omnipotence.
                     Appointed Heir of All Things
   Elsewhere it is written, "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible
and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him
and for Him" (Col 1:16). Jesus is the reason for the world, and for humanity. Things that can be seen, and
things that cannot be seen were made for Him. All forms of power are His; He is the reason for their
existence, and they will all be brought under Him. "The kingdoms of this world" themselves will yet
"become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ" (Rev 11:15). Everything is going to be gathered into
one in Christ! That is the Divine appointment. The history of the world is nothing less than the
outworking of this eternal purpose. As it is written, "He made known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him  with a view to an administration suitable to
the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things
upon the earth" (Eph 1:9-10, NASB).
   Who is a more suitable Spokesman? He speaks with this appointment in mind. His words will prepare
us to participate with Him in this glorious heirship. Remember, "He who overcomes shall inherit all
things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Rev 21:7, NKJV). Such are "joint heirs with
Christ" (Rom 8:17)--a staggering consideration! Jesus is speaking to bring men into the ultimate
inheritance with Himself! His design is not simply to tell us what to do, but to orient us to reign with
Him
(2 Tim 2:12).
                           Through Whom God  Made the Worlds
   Creation is larger than it appears! Our world is the focus of redemption, but it is not all that was created
by and for Christ Jesus. Through the Son, God made "the worlds" (touj aiwnaj). Different translations
use
the word "universe" (NIV) and "the world" (NASB, RSV). Darby and the ASV also use "worlds," while
Young's Literal Translation uses "the ages."
   The phrase "the worlds" is used 32 times in the New Testament Scriptures. It is used in
a variety of ways. It is translated "forever" (Matt 6:13; Lk 1:33; Rom 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; 2 Cor
11:31; Heb 13:8; Jude 25 ) "forevermore" (Gal 1:5; Rev 1:18), and "forever and ever" (Phil 4:20; 1 Tim
1:17; 2 Tim 4:18; Heb 13:21; 1 Pet 4:11; 5:11; Rev 1:6; 4:9,10; 5:13; 7:12; 10:6; 11:15; 14:11; 15:7;
19:3; 20:10; 22:5).
   This text, however, appears to use the word in a unique way. Later, in the eleventh chapter, the Spirit
uses this word in regard to creation. "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word
of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible" (NASB). Doubtless, this refers
to the expression in our text, "through Whom also He made the worlds." Elsewhere in Scripture, the
extent of creation is also mentioned. The book of Colossians contains an expression almost identical to
the one we are considering. "And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For
by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before
all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Col 1:15-17, NASB). Herein is a most wonderful
declaration!
     Our minds are to be stretched in our consideration of the Son! When it comes to Jesus, let men
abandon restrictive views, and stunted ideas. The heavens and the earth are involved in the creation. It is
probable this is larger than what men call "the universe." Everything in our universe consists of things
that "can be seen."
                           Invisible Things
     There are also things that cannot be seen; i.e., do not accommodate themselves to human vision. This
is not referring to things that can be seen with the naked eye, but require a microscope, or some other
mechanism, to enlarge them for our vision! Invisible things cannot be seen with any earthly assistance.
They are not things that merely need to be made larger. They belong to another dimension. Think of
angels, spirits, cherubim, seraphim, the devil, demons, etc. These are some things that are "invisible"--all
made by and for Jesus. The only exception is God Himself, Who also is "invisible" (Col 1:15; Heb
11:27). 
                         Thrones and Dominions
     There are "thrones . . .  dominions . . . rulers . . . authorities." On the lower side of this hierarchy are
earthly kings and potentates, but they are nothing to be compared with spiritual authorities. Daniel was
told of powerful spiritual powers. Two were mentioned in particular: "the prince of Persia," and "the
prince of Grecia" (Dan 10:13,20). John the Revelator wrote of angels that had "power over
fire" (Rev 14:18), and "the angel of the waters"(Rev 16:4-5). These, together with every other form of
authority, were made "by Him and for Him." For that reason, no personality or influence from the seen or
unseen realm can separate us "from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8:35-39).
                     The Brightness of God's Glory
     This thought has challenged the greatest minds of our race--as well as that of angels. Jesus is
"radiance of God's glory" (NIV), or "the brightness of His glory" (NRSV). Darby's translation, and the
ASV, says it this way; "effulgence of his glory."  
     The Spirit is not referring to a physical impression of God, like Israel experienced at Sinai (Ex 24:10).
God's Person is comprehended by a perception of His purpose, His work, His glorious objectives.
Looking into the face of Jesus is not an activity of the flesh, like those that beheld Him before His death
and resurrection. As it is written, "Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh;
even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer" (2 Cor
5:16, NASB). 
     God the Father is seen most clearly in the Lord Jesus Christ. As it is written, "For God, who said,
"Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Cor 4:6). Only in Christ is an accurate perception
of God found! Study cannot appropriate such knowledge, the analysis of nature, or a finely-spun
Scriptural hermeneutic. Men search in vain to comprehend God apart from Christ Jesus. As it is written,
"
. . . so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the
mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col
2:2-3, NIV).
     When we behold the significance of Jesus--His Person and accomplishments--we are seeing the glory
of God! We obtain insight into the "love of God" (1 John 3:16). His desire to transform and receive men
is seen in Jesus. When you are confronted with the Son of God in the Gospels, you are beholding God!
The responses of the Savior to the infirm, children, religious bigots, earnest seekers, and those that are
contrite reveal the heart of God! Jesus is the brightness of God's glory! You could not see this glory in
Moses--even when his face shone as the noonday sun! You could not see it in Elijah, even when he was
translated into heaven! Nor, indeed, could this glory be seen in the Law of Moses!
     God the Father is most clearly seen in Jesus! He is not perceived with such clarity anywhere else! The
church, even though it is raised and sanctified, does not project such glory. It is not the "effulgence" of
the glory of God! If men are ever to become acquainted with God, they must become acquainted with
Christ Jesus! They must learn the significance of His words and works. They must be captured by the
glory of His Person. If the church is going to do the work of God, it must major on Christ Jesus. It will
not do to become occupied with what it conceives to be the work of God if Jesus is neglected! To the
extent Jesus is obscured, God is veiled, and His work cannot be discerned!
(More on this subject tomorrow)
In joyful expectation of glory
Given O. Blakely