God’s eternal purposes prepared by the word of His power

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. This is such an interesting verse, containing foundational truths. First, let’s make sure we understand the word translated world in this verse. It’s also used in Heb. 1:2, where the author wrote, ”In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” He didn’t use the word cosmos, which typically refers to the earth or the universe. Aion is usually described by spiritual and moral characteristics and refers to an age or ages in the plural. So the term eternal ages may be the best understanding of the word the author used. In the N.T., aion always communicates eternal or everlasting purposes. How does someone understand the all-encompassing foundational truth that God prepared all of the ages of time with its purposes by His word? By faith, which leads us to a second word that needs defining. Second, the author taught that the eternal ages with their purposes were established by the word, the rhema of God. It is by the rhema of God that faith comes to those who believe. Romans 10:17. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of Christ.” Let’s let W.E. Vines help us distinguish rhema from logos. He wrote in his Dictionary of New Testament Words, Vol. 4, pg. 230. The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Eph. 6:17. Here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture. The distinction between rhema and logos is the power of the Holy Spirit attending to or applying the word of God. That’s why just knowing the Scriptures or knowing facts isn’t enough to produce faith. Only the Holy Spirit can produce faith because it is by His doing that the hearing of the heart comes. As the author wrote in chapter 4, the Israelites heard the good news, but it was not united with faith in their hearts. The Holy Spirit hadn’t given the words life and therefore, power.  Our hearts are prepared for the purposes of God even as the eternal ages were prepared according to God’s purposes by the Holy Spirit empowering the words of God. Now let’s make an important connection. God’s purpose for believers in Christ is to glorify Him by living to love with Jesus. The ages were prepared for us to do this! The faith that the Holy Spirit wrought in our hearts works through love (Gal. 5:6). So, we understand that God prepared all of the eternal ages by the power of His Holy Spirit to exist for His glory. For God to be glorified, He gave us His Son, to live His life of love for us and through us. That is our testimony of faith. What we see happening in our lives flows out of the invisible, glorious purposes of God. Romans 11:36 echoes Heb. 11:3 and this great foundational reality. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever (that’s the word aion). Amen.”