Vice-Regents

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:18-21)

“Everything [is] under his control.” What a glorious truth to cling to this morning.

God is in control of our health.

He is in control of our economy.

He is in control of our work.

And while we may not know or understand His plans, all throughout Scripture, He has proven Himself to be faithful and sovereign, working all things for His glory and the ultimate “good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).

One day, we will see the ultimate culmination of that good on the New Earth where Christ will reign as king forever. But until then, the King has called us to work as His vice-regents, toiling to extend His control and agenda for redemption of every square inch of creation.

Doctors are working around the clock to bring COVID-19 under control.

Government leaders are working to bring our way of life under control.

Entrepreneurs and other culture creators are working to bring the economy under control.

All of our work should be aimed at the redemption of what’s broken in our world today, in-line with the agenda of the One True King. But whether we fail or succeed, all our attempts at redemptive work have the opportunity to serve as sign-posts to the ultimate redemption of all things through Christ.

On that first Easter morning, Jesus showed us that He has the power to “transform our lowly human bodies” into something redeemed, perfect, and “glorious” (verse 21). But as Scripture makes clear, when Christ returns to rule forever in the New Jerusalem, He won’t just redeem our bodies. He will redeem the whole of creation. Because everything is ultimately under His control.

One day, all of our attempts at redemptive work will be made perfect. Until that day, let us work heartily (Colossians 3:23) to point to the future hope for our world.