Valuing what's been given to Us

When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. ~John 17:1-3

God blessed them (man and women) and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." ~Genesis 1:28

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This weekend in church (Eleven22), we were in John, chapter 17 verses 1 through 26 and immediately, I was struck by a realization of comparisons. 

Pastor Joby Martin explained "...glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You," which only added punctuation to that comparison. Joby said that when Jesus prayed, "glorify your Son," the context does not lend to what we consider the act of glorifying. Where people laud over and gush about us, shining the light on us. No. This "glorify" was more aligned with, "The time has come for You to use me, Father, for Your purpose. Bruise me. Do whatever is necessary that fulfills Your purpose of saving human kind. Complete Your purpose through me so, I bring You the glory You deserve."

What struck me is that Jesus recognized that God gave Him authority over all human kind, and yet Jesus valued that authority and its specific purpose without challenging God about that purpose, in order to fulfill the responsibility given to Him. 

In contrast, God gave mankind the authority to rule over creation - everything in the sea, the skies and on the earth - and yet we not only challenged that responsibility, we thought we could rule over all creation without God. When we decided to disobey God and eat a forbidden fruit - the only thing in all creation that was forbidden for us - we did that (and continue to do that) with the mindset of wanting to take God's sovereign ruling authority from God, claim that authority as ours, claim ourselves equal to God, and dismiss Him as not needed or necessary. 

And yet Jesus valued that God-given responsibility, knowing He was given all authority over mankind to provide the ability to live with God eternally, and knowing that in order to give eternal life, His life was to be given in exchange. He valued that deemed authority in such a way as to not deviate from his charge. Even though Jesus is equal to God. Even to complete abandonment by all who knew Him. Even to public humiliation. Even to brutal force used against His body. Even to allowing people to torture Him to death.

Our authority was to live in a perfect creation where God Himself would join us to share our days. We were able to enjoy being with God in His physical presence. We were to live in this gorgeous abundance and have authority over everything God created to be in this environment. We were to live and multiply and everything associated with the act of multiplying. We were given the authority to live and be joyful and we chose (and choose) not to value that responsibility. We challenge God. We are not satisfied with the level of authority He has given us and attempt to grab His authority, claiming it as ours; taking His creation as our possession and dismissing Him from life. 

Who are we that God gave us authority over His earthly creation? Who are we that God cares for us and, wants to save us from our self-created destruction? Who are we that God pursues us even in our defiance? Who are we that Jesus valued the God-given responsibility to fulfill the critically needed actions to save us from our self-created destruction? Who are we that God loves us?

Perhaps (Jacob), we should value God and what God has given us.