Looking to the world to come.

Hebrews 2:5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. This verse gives us a great encouragement because it informs us that this great salvation that God has spoken of in His Son, Jesus Christ, is not concerning this world, but concerning the world to come. There’s a new world coming in which Jesus reigns in righteousness. The word of God to and about angels have been compared to the word of God about Jesus. Jesus did lay the foundation of this earth and made the heavens with His hands (1:10), but this present world will be rolled up like a piece of clothing is rolled up and discarded. In contrast, God said that Jesus’ years are forever, which means there’s a world to come where Jesus will be crowned with glory and honor and He will be celebrated with His companions. By the way, that’s us who believe. Consider how great is this salvation that we want to be careful not to neglect! It’s out of this world! Listen to John’s record of the revelation of Christ. Rev. 21:1-5. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” If that doesn’t anchor your faith and bolster your love, then you have neglected God’s great salvation and are tragically in danger of being under the penalty for every transgression and disobedience in your life. This great salvation saves us from the sins of this life in this world, but also saves us for an eternal life of righteousness in the world to come. That is the hope into which we anchor our lives. The author writes later in this book in Hebrews 6:17-19 about this hope. In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil. The hope set before is the promise of God’s great salvation: a share in the celebration of the Son in the new world to come. Our love for others flows out of that hope. Remember what Paul wrote to the Colossians? Christ in you, the hope of glory. How do we know we have Christ in us? Because we believe His word, we abide in His love so His love can flow through us for His glory. So look into the world to come, and let your heart be satisfied in Jesus rather than the things of this world, which is passing away. You will not regret it.