The “Why?” is Answered in the “Yet”

We live in a world with a tremendous amount of suffering. With social media and global news services informing us daily of the trials and tribulations of others.  Another family lost a precious child, another mother gets breast cancer, a drunk driver kills an innocent motorist robbing a family of a father.  Natural disasters strike across the globe claiming thousands.  Millions live in extreme poverty and even struggle with starvation and lack of healthy drinking water.  Sometimes, these events are not someone else, but ourself and our own family!

Even Christians struggle with jealousy, lack of zeal, division, moral sin, and false doctrine.

When these things strike close to our own lives we cry forth, “Why?”  We intuitively wonder, “Why me?  Why my child? Why my spouse?  Why my church?”  We struggle to understand.

I find one answer to the why in Hebrews 2:8.  In fact, it is a verse that gives great comfort and strength.

The writer of Hebrews is making the point that everything is in subjection to Jesus.  He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords.  He includes this incredible statement, “At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” 

Read that closely and slowly.  It is a statement that answers the “why” and gives us comfort and hope.  God knows that at present there is tremendous unfairness, suffering, and wrong!  But as Christians we trust in the little three letter word – “yet.”  We live differently today because we believe Christ is the Lord.  We choose to submit today, which is what all of creation will do one day!  We live with the knowledge of the greatest truth ever told, Jesus is Lord!

The answer to our “why” is that everything is not in subjection to Jesus;  other people, satan, the evil world, and even the rules of nature.  

So what do we do in the meantime?  We focus on Jesus, “who for a little while was made lower than the angels . . . crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).  It is this Jesus, who “is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18).

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, understanding the answer is in the “yet.”