JESUS, THE BRIGHTNESS OF GOD'S GLORY

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Devotion 4 of 14

IN THESE LAST DAYS

      History--particularly Divine history--is interesting. However, it is nothing to compare with "these last days." The message of God has been clarified in these times! The vista of revelation have been extended! As time has progressed, the message of God has been marked by greater clarity. All of this has occurred because God "is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9). You are living in the most advantageous times in the history of the world. This is not because of the events that are taking place in our day. It is not because of technological advances, or the sudden explosion of worldly wisdom. Those enamored of spiritual trends may even suppose the expectation of a possible awakening makes this the greatest of all times. But this is not the case. This is the time in which Jesus is speaking!

    The Holy Spirit proclaims the advantage to be the source of Divine communication. God has reserved His best and most thorough Spokesman for "the last days." If one cannot read the signs of the times, then the consideration of the One through Whom God is speaking will identify the times for us. These are "the last days."

    Micah spoke of "the last days" as a time of increased spiritual appetite and knowledge--a time when people would be taught by God in a glorious way. "And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains . . . the peoples will stream to it. And many nations will come and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD and to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us . . ." (Micah 4:1-2). The prophet was speaking of the time when the work of God would reach its apex. It would be "last" in respect to the Lord's work in the world in its temporal state.

    From another viewpoint--one particularly relevant to this book--the "last days" were the conclusion of the dispensation of Law. The Revised Version translates the verse, "at the end of these days." With the advent of Christ, the age of the first covenant was "becoming obsolete and growing old . . . ready to disappear" (Heb 8:13b, NASB). As glorious as the message of Moses and the Prophets was, it paled in the bright  light the word of God's last Messenger!

    "These last days" are the last of the supremacy of Moses! The Prophets are now secondary! The Law has lost its original glory! The ancient people are no longer the center of Divine attention. The First Covenant has been replaced with one of greater glory! This is "the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2). What is more, the marvelous period in which we live will conclude with the consummation of all things. It will usher in the fulfillment of all that was spoken by the holy Prophets. It will conclude with the passing of the heavens and the earth, and the unveiling of the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. The devil and his angels will be cast into the lake of fire, together with all that have rejected the Lord and His Christ. As for the saints, the greatness of God's kingdom will be given to them, and they shall reign with Jesus (Dan 7:18,22,27).

    This is the era called "these last days." God has a special Spokesman for these days--a superior Spokesman. He has no peers, and will judge the world by the very words He has spoken (John 12:47 48). How fitting that we consider this Representative and Who it is that speaks through Him! His message will transcend all others in both content and effects.

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus Christ for reserving the best Messenger for the last!

-- Tomorrow: GOD HAS SPOKEN THROUGH HIS SON --