Before the Promise

Jesus Christ is today sitting at the right hand of God the Father. He is known as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Bible tells us that God has given Him a name that is above every other name. When people speak His name today, you would be hard pressed to find someone who has not heard it. Here’s the specific verse of scripture,

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…”

Philippians 2:9 (NKJV)

When I was a teenager, around fourteen years old or so, I was riding in the school bus on my way to being dropped off at home. I was thinking about calling my girlfriend when I arrived and thinking of all the things I wanted to do in the afternoon. We were only about two miles from my home when suddenly I heard a loud piercing noise and found myself flying through the air inside the bus. The bus was flipping and so was I inside the bus while holding the back of my head. I had no idea what was happening as it happened so quickly, but I remember the first and only word that came bubbling to my lips, “JESUS!”

When everything came to a halt, I found that we had been hit by a small car full of teenagers who ran an intersection. Anyone who would have driven up to the scene of the accident and saw a bus on its side and a car as totaled as that one would have assumed someone dead for sure. Miraculously, everyone involved lived and I personally walked out of that bus with nothing but bruises from the tumble. I believe that is the power and protection that is in the name of Jesus Christ. The question, however, is how did Jesus receive such a name and authority?

“But (Jesus) made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:7-8

Here’s our answer. Before Jesus was exalted to the place of honor that He has today, he first had the biggest test of his entire life. He had to humble himself and become obedient to God’s will, even when it involved having to suffer unlike ever before and die. The reward on the other side, however, was unlike anything we have seen or will see:

“…He (God) raised Him (Jesus Christ) from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet…”

Ephesians 1:20-22

A follower of Christ has one mission in life…to be like Jesus. We oftentimes love being like Jesus when it comes to seeing people healed, sharing the love of Christ, and using His name to see miracles similar to the one in my story. What we don’t always enjoy are the times when it is our turn to humble ourselves and become obedient to the tests and trials that come our way. Here’s the promise that we are given,

“And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Romans 8:17 (NLT)

So you see the Bible is clear that we have a promise of inheriting God’s glory and sharing in what Jesus Christ Himself has been given because of His obedience to suffering the death on the cross. While we are not necessarily asked to go suffer and die on a cross like Him, we are certainly going to have tests of our obedience that will require us to “share his suffering” in some way or another. Jesus had to lay down His life for us to obey the Father’s will, and we will ultimately have to choose to lay ours down in some way as well.

The wonderful thing about God is He doesn’t make us wait until we die to receive at least some of our reward for our obedience.

Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

Luke 18:28-30 (NLT)

I want to encourage you to press on in whatever tests and trials come your way. Jesus walked the earth for over 33 years before his greatest test, but the promised exaltation came immediately after it was over. If you feel like your test is bigger than it has ever been, it is because you are closer to God’s promise than you have ever been. Always remember, the will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not enable you!

If you would like me to pray for you, feel free to submit your request here. Let’s start your journey to becoming more.