The Whole World’s a Stage…for the Salvation of Christ’s Church

God created the world and the universe as a display of His works (Gen 1–2; Col 1:15), meant to bring Him glory, as the architect and builder of all things (Heb 3:4; 11:10). The natural man, with his theories and speculations, suppresses the truth about our Creator and His creation (Rom 1:18). In the contrivance to rob God of His glory for all that He has done, the natural man also misses the main plot of God’s creation…the salvation of Christ’s church.

In truth, the natural man has no idea what he is doing, existing in this world he does not understand. In ignorance, most people labor to simply survive in a world in strife. They eat, sleep, work, die, and go to judgment (Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10; Heb 9:27). The pursuit of pleasure is a primary occupation after security has been achieved (Eccl 8:15; Lk 12:19). Pleasure comes in many forms. Entertainment, food, travel, sex, disassociation (drugs & alcohol) are most common. Being comfortable is primary.

Nature provides enough discord and violence to suggest to the natural man that something is not right. There are clearly forces of another realm at work in our world. They are invisible to the human eye, but they make their presence known. Some of these entities present light and others an ethos of darkness (2 Cor 4:4; 11:14; Eph 6:12).

Christians, having the revelation of God in the Bible (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21), know that amidst all the chaos of nations there is one central figure in human history and the whole story is meaningless apart from Him. He is hardly a believable character to the citizens of the world because He and His ways are so unlike the people and ways of the world (Eph 2:2).

People think nothing of reading a book, going to a stage play, or watching a movie with a hero, an antagonist, and a dramatic plotline. They absorb the redemption plot with familiarity. Consumers of stories have little problem accepting anybody as the hero, the protagonist, who sacrifices for the benefit of others. The book, play, or movie ends with peace restored for good people to live happily ever after.

Where does the redemptive theme originate? When people hear that the greatest story ever told is God’s redemptive work to save His chosen people, their reaction is typically not favorable. Anyone can be a hero, in their minds, except Jesus Christ. The Son of God is despised and rejected of men (Is 53:3) for a number of reasons revealed in the Bible.

First, people hate Jesus because they hate God (Jn 7:7; 15:18–25; Rom 1:30). God’s redemption story is true, and the bad company in the ranks of humanity will not have Jesus to be the man who rules over them (Lk 19:14). This is why both Jews and Gentiles were a party to killing Jesus.

Second, thinking they were rid of Jesus, having made a mockery of justice, God exonerated His only begotten Son by raising Him from the dead (Acts 3:15; 4:10; 13:30), exalting Him to God’s heavenly throne (Ps 110:1; Rev 7:17), and then giving Him the name above every other name (Eph 1:21; Phil 2:9). This has infuriated the antagonists ever since.

Jesus’ death on the cross was the main plot point and twist in God’s creation/redemption story. Up until Jesus’ first advent God was proving to the sons of Adam that they did not have what it takes to reconcile themselves to God. In their natural state, they were evil. Even when God set apart one people group to make His next point, they failed. Israel had the patriarchs, the covenant, the promises, the Law, the Temple, the priesthood, the sacrifices, and the prophets. Yet, God’s Word charged them with the same rebellion as the Gentiles (Rom 1–2). Despite their advantages, their example was a bad one (1 Cor 10).

The eternal Son of God entered the story. The unlikely ones came to Him at His birth and worshiped the King of the Jews. They are still the ones who hear His voice, today, and follow Him (Jn 10:3–4; 1 Cor 1:26). Why?

Sinners turn from their sinful ways and trust Jesus Christ because a remnant of humanity, the chosen few, are recipients of His Holy Spirit (Mt 22:14; Jn 7:39; 20:22; Acts 2:33, 38; Acts 8:15). In this salvation of God’s elect, holy nation of royal priests, Christ’s church, the Israel of God we see each member of the Trinitarian Godhead glorified. Salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1).

When the story comes to its climactic end at the consummation of the ages, the end of history, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:10–11). This will be true for the antagonists and those who were aligned with the protagonist by His mercy and grace. All things will be brought into subjection to Christ at His return on the last day…Judgment Day (1 Cor 15:27; Eph 1:22; Heb 2:8).

The end of all things, outside of the salvation of Christ’s church, is destruction by fire (Mt 25:41; 2 Pet 3:10–12; Rev 20:14–15). We discover from Scripture that a whole new creation, including a new heavens and a new earth (Is 65–66; Rev 21–22), will be home to those who were in Christ Jesus at the time of their physical deaths. Jesus gave them eternal life — first to their souls at regeneration and to their bodies at the resurrection to life — in glorified bodies (Jn 10:28; 1 Jn 5:12).

The resolution to the story is a new beginning to an eternity of happily ever after. Without sin, Satan, a corrupt universe, or death — the citizens of New Jerusalem in the better country of the new earth, will enjoy immortal, indestructible bodies forever (1 Cor 15; Heb 11:16; Rev 3:12; 21:2). Life in this perfect world is the design and construction of the Almighty Maker, who will dwell in the midst of His people.

Serving God and bringing glory to Him, who loved us from the beginning, will be our eternal joy. Now, my dear reader, I leave you to examine the expectation of most people to have their eternal home in heaven, contrasted with the revelation of God’s Word that assures us that eternal hell’s population will be far greater. Therefore, take time and give attention to ensure your calling and election are aligned with the Bible (2 Pet 1:10).

Every person has faith in someone and something. Some have believed wrong things about Jesus but refuse to receive correction from God’s Word preached to them. If in doubt pray to God for right alignment, and may He grant that to you at center stage.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

July 16, 2022