Jesus came into this world immaculately, lived extraordinarily, died excruciatingly, rose victoriously and ascended gloriously back into Heaven, promising to one day return and take us home. All for the explicit purpose of rescuing sinners and reconciling them back to God.
This story has changed the world more than any other. It reminds us that we are but a small part in a much larger divine plan. This Gospel subversively disrupts the fabric of culture and steadfastly explodes the sturdiness of our self-allegiance. Jesus has an effectual change on everyone and everything that He comes in contact with. You can’t escape His influence.
So we celebrate what Jesus has done for us, trust we could never outdo it and rest in knowing we don’t need to attempt to. He came to rescue us, died to pardon us, rose to revive us and ascended into glory to assure us that in whatever may have passed, and whatever might lie before, all things are leading us to a certain future with Him forever. He has, and will do, great things for us. Of this we can be sure.
While we rejoice over what Jesus has done and look with great anticipation towards what He has promised to do, we often fail to consider what He is doing right now, today, in this very moment. Yet Scripture is not silent on the matter of how Jesus spends His present time and energies. Jesus is not on vacation, or kicking back waiting for God to give Him the go ahead to return to earth. Scripture tells us He is actively working on our behalf, interceding for us, advocating for us and making preparations in Heaven for our final return home. While He has redeemed our past and secured our future, He is also uniquely and intimately involved in our today.
Among other things, here's three things Jesus is doing for you right now:
RULING IN POWER
“…we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places.” Hebrews 8:1-2
The power of Jesus is not lacking in His physical absence, but is rooted in His heavenly position. He currently resides in the most prominent position of influence and authority in all the universe, actively ministering to and engaging with all of creation. He is not unaware of our circumstances or uncertain of their outcomes. From His vantage point He sees all, knows all and strategically maneuvers all things in accordance with the will of the Father next to whom He sits.
Right now, today, we can live with the absolute assurance that Jesus is infinitely more powerful than anything we may encounter in this world. His intangible influence emanating from Heaven is stronger than the stresses, struggles, anxieties, enemies, fears, pressures, sins, guilts, shames or oppressions that hold on to us here. While at times it may seem the kingdom of this world reigns as the ultimate ruler, it is our true and better King Jesus who declares, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Acts 7:49) Jesus is bigger and better and more powerful for you right now, today, in whatever you might be facing. He is the reigning King.
INTERCEDING ON OUR BEHALF
“He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
While the work of Jesus to secure us in salvation was completed on the Cross, His care for us today knows no end. He is intricately and intimately involved in our daily relationship with God. He represents us in Heaven – in the presence of God (Hebrews 9:24). We therefore do not have to represent ourselves. He is the courier of our prayers to the Father and makes requests on our behalf that we are wholly unaware of but oblivious beneficiaries of. He is conferencing with God about you right now, determining what is entirely best and good for you, and making provision accordingly.
When we sin, He advocates on our behalf and pleads our case before the Father (1 John 2:1-2). He continually points to His work on the Cross for us as the basis of our amends before the Righteous Judge. He stands in the gap for us. We don’t answer to God for ourselves, Jesus does; we don’t make amends for ourselves before a holy Judge, Jesus already has. The Enemy is our great accuser, continually pointing out our faults and failures to God. But Jesus is our great defender, eternally satisfying God with His perfect righteousness freely granted to us.
In your weaknesses before God today, Jesus is strong for you. In your failure before God today, Jesus answers for you. In your confusion and need before God today, Jesus makes requests for you and provides for you. He will take your anxieties, fears, doubts and troubles to the heart of the Father where they are boldly embraced in the mercy and grace now made accessible to you through the Cross. Jesus always lives to make intercession for you. He laid down His life long ago so that He could stand for your life today.
PREPARING A PLACE FOR US
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3
Jesus is eagerly anticipating your arrival into glory and is actively making arrangements for you right now. Our sure hope of Heaven in the future is our greatest source of strength in the present. This world is not our home. Jesus willcome again and take us to our rightful dwelling place with Him. In moments of clarity amidst the confusion of this world, we can rest in the assurance that our citizenship is elsewhere (Philippians 3:20) – that darkness and brokenness might prevail around us but Jesus is preparing for us a better and more glorious place. He has done all that was necessary to secure for us a welcome and permanent place in the presence of God. And right now He is actively preparing for our arrival into the fullness of what He has in store.
When the brokenness of this world becomes unbearable, remember Jesus is preparing something better. When the darkness is overwhelming, remember Jesus is preparing something better. When the chaos and confusion are too much to bear, remember Jesus is preparing something much, much better. The most brilliant of beauties in this world remind us of a more glorious beauty that Jesus has in store, and the deepest of pains and sorrows stir in us a desperate longing to be with Him where He is, at home, forever. This world is not our home, yet in the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, the painful and the pleasurable – all things cause our souls to be captured by the affectionate delight of our Savior who is joyfully anticipating our arrival.
________________
Jesus has done great things for us and has promised to do even more, but to miss out on what He is doing right now is to minimize the fullness of His work on our behalf. He is laboring for you in Heaven in this very moment. The work of Jesus for you today is wholly good, sustaining you, protecting you and making perfect and abundant provision for you. He is not still, but is active on your behalf.
