Last Days Living

May 8

Read: Hebrews 1:1-4

Last Days Living

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” (v.1,2)

God has shifted how he communicates to his people. Long ago, at many different times and in many different ways God spoke by the prophets, but something has shifted since the coming of Christ. These days - which the bible calls “the last days” - are marked by this new way of communicating. These last days God is communicating through his SON.

This is not to say that reading the Old Testament is “wrong” or unimportant; but we ought to recognize that the coming of Christ initiates a powerful and unique revealing of God that surpasses the “old ways”. Those “old ways” are forever seen through a NEW lens - the lens and light of CHRIST. Hearing through prophets may have been fit for those not “in the last days”, but for us - we have the indwelling presence of Christ!

Those others avenues of knowing God that preceded Christ were sent by God, but none of them where the “exact imprint of his nature” the way that Christ is. (v.3, cf. 2 Cor. 4:4, Col. 1:15-20) All of the communication before Christ was lacking in some small way or another… it was not the “exact imprint”… it did not have the “radiance of the glory of God” like Jesus does! (v.3) These things may point us to Christ - these “old ways” that God used - but they are not fit to replace him. In fact, once you have Christ they have done a good bit of their job.

God knew that his people would need more than a book in the last days. God knew that the last days would be when his “book” (the scriptures) would be brought to life by the revealing of the Son. Looking to anything, anyone, or anywhere other than Jesus is always choosing as diminished picture of God. Only the Son - Jesus Christ - is described this way:

“(Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation… For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col. 1:15,19)

“appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” (Heb. 1:2-4)

This is why everything that wars against God Most High in this universe works against people knowing about Jesus. This is why they “god of this world” seeks to blind people from the ability to see Jesus:

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4)

As we live in these last days, we must not trade the Son for a book. As we read the book, we look to the SON - the radiance and exact imprint of God. If anyone or anything tells you that there is some facet of God that was left out of Jesus… that we do not find in Jesus… then they are not reading the bible! The FULLEST picture and revealing of God comes in the SON. This is why we look to CHRIST for the greatest, deepest. and clearest picture of God. The Old Testament points forward to him. The New Testament points backwards to him. The Spirit within us reminds us of his words and ministry… speaking truth to us: “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” (John 15:25) To live in these “last days” requires nothing short of the Son. DO not look anywhere else to find a “exact imprint” or the “fullness of God to dwell”. Look to the SON. Listen to him today through the word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God. Love you guys. - JDP

*PS- This is the start of a book study of Hebrews. It is going to be fun!