The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Great Design, #14

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: (Hebrews 2:6,7)

Dominion

What is man that You are mindful of Him?—that You visit him?

Man is created to be the throne of almighty God.

Man is destined to be the ruler over all the works of God's hands. We still are under tutors and governors but the hour will come when the Kingdom is given to us. First, however, we must be in the image of God, we must be in union with the Lord Jesus Christ, and we must be bearing fruit. To bear fruit in the Kingdom of God is to produce righteousness and praise, to bring about the performing of God's will in the earth.

The Lord Jesus is what God means by "man." Jesus is in the image of God. He is in absolute union with God. He is bringing about righteousness and praise, the performing of God's will, in the earth (as well as in the heavenlies). Therefore the Lord Jesus has received all authority and all power in Heaven and on the earth. Jesus sits on the highest throne of the universe.

We have been called to that same throne, to the place of dominion over all the works of God's hands.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)

Revelation 3:21 (above) reveals that the saints are called to the position of supreme power over the works of God's hands. The power of Christ's throne is beyond imagination. It is to this supreme majesty that we have been assigned by the Lord. Whether or not we attain such a high mark depends on our willingness to lay aside all else and follow Jesus to complete victory over all that would compete for our worship and service.

People are not rulers today. We are ruled by the world, by the lusts of our flesh, by Satan and his demons, and by our self-love. Men and women in the so-called "free" nations enjoy thinking they are free, but they are not. Whoever commits sin is the slave of sin.

When an individual believes in Christ and attempts to cease sinning he discovers quickly that he is not in control of his own personality. His imaginations, motives, words, and deeds are being directed by forces that have become deeply entrenched in him. He may know what is the godly thing to think and to do, but the performing of righteousness, the doing of God's will, is difficult—sometimes extremely difficult.

We are the slaves of the world, of Satan, of sin, and of self-love.

When we believe in Christ and are baptized in water we are given by the Lord the authority to serve righteousness. Because of Calvary we are legally free from servitude to the kingdom of darkness. From this point forward we must continue choosing to serve righteousness. But it requires the help of the grace of God if we are to live righteously in obedience to the will of God.

The receiving of our inheritance in the Kingdom of God depends on our success in overcoming the forces arrayed against us. We can overcome if we place our complete confidence in the Lord Jesus and seek His wisdom and power in every detail of our life.

To be continued.