The Exact Imprint of God
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Hebrews 1:1-4
1. In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; 2. but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the worlds. 3. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4. having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs.
My bible translation of verse 3 says he bears the exact imprint of his nature. The exact imprint of God. Wow! That’s how God created us too! We are His exact imprint--all of us together from the very first human being, until Christ comes again. All of us together make up the “imprint” of God. When Paul talks about us all being “one body” I think that’s what he’s talking about. We are all a part of God, and so when we sin, we sin not only against God, but against every person who ever lived, or who is yet to live.
Jesus was the “perfect imprint” of God and won for us access to the throne of God. His obedience and determination to become sin for man, won us that same perfection. His death won life for all humanity. His resurrection won us heaven! His words, his actions, his life hold the key to how we spend eternity in heaven with his/our Lord. He is God/became man/returned to God in some cosmic mystery that is impossible to understand or comprehend.
Someone asked me recently how can you believe all that’s written about Christ? Isn’t it preposterous to think that God would come to earth and then allow himself to be tortured and killed? My response was that I cannot explain why I believe the words “spoken to us by a Son.” I only know that I do believe--without doubt, without hesitation--that the God/Man who walked this earth is now in heaven--superior to the angels and upholding the universe by his word of power.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
This morning before my walk, I looked up to see Mars, now very near the earth. And I remembered this weekend hearing a report that Mars once had water -- lots of water. And where there is water, there is life. And where there is life, there is God (I added the last part!) I wonder sometimes if there was another species on another planet once long ago--in a time so far back we cannot even fathom it. I wonder if we are the last hope for “the worlds” in the universe.
If man is the last hope of all creation, we have a tremendous responsibility -- greater even than making disciples of Christ -- actually, we have the purpose -- but it grows exponentially when we stretch out our reach to Mars and beyond! I imagine when I re-read this I’ll realize I’ve rambled on this morning! I was just so blown away by the beauty of the moon this morning -- a bright crescent superimposed on the shadow of the full moon and the sky was crystal clear -- all the constellations on display -- and Mars -- butterscotch color and hanging alone in the sky.
Jesus understands how it feels to be human. He must have felt just as small and insignificant when he looked up at the sky as we do. From the vantage point of earth, the universe seems so vast. But scripture tells us that Christ is in heaven with his Father and they have it all under control. Because of Christ, we have confidence when we draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I hope today you will hide the word of God in your heart. And rejoice that the great high priest who sits at the right had of God, understands our human-ness.
Mary
