Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
A wise teacher who helps teens has come up with a good subtitle for the book of Hebrews. He calls it, "Unfinished Business." And when you read the book, that idea surfaces repeatedly. God is doing something, accomplishing a great work as our heavenly Father, as the Son who is our great High Priest, and as the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter. But what He's doing He hasn't finished yet. Heaven is excited, anxious to see His work completed.
We see a hint of the unfinished business in chapter 2. Our brother Paul is talking about the great Cosmic Insurgency being "put under," and peace restored to the universe. Our current insurgency problems throughout the world are heart-rending--we long to see rebellion conquered so war-weary people can rest and "live" in peace.
In greater circumstances, the Rebel, Satan, has masterminded an Insurgency of gigantic worldwide proportions that affects the entire universe. And the Father has promised that He will bring order and peace through Christ. "You have put all things in subjection under His feet," He says (2:8, first part).
But the sad truth is that the gigantic job isn't finished yet: "Now we do not yet see all things put under Him" (second part). "Not yet"--there's the "unfinished business." And unless you are ready to be translated at the second coming of the Savior (1 Thess. 4:16, 17), the Holy Spirit has "unfinished business" yet to accomplish in your own human heart.
What encourages us is to know that He is carrying on this work. He had "unfinished business" with His Son Jesus--when He was born as a Baby He was "holy" (Luke 1:35), but He was "not yet" ready to save the world until He had been through an intensive course of "suffering." "Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:8, 9). The Son who was "holy" at His birth had to become "righteous" at His death (Rom. 5:18). And "suffering" was part of His training (the angels don't have it).
Therefore, don't be surprised if He permits a little suffering to come your way!
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 26, 2004.
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