In Genesis 1, we learn that human beings were created to exercise dominion over the earth. It was our human calling to care for and develop the rich potential of God’s good creation. The same thought is conveyed in Psalm 8, a passage quoted in an earlier section of Hebrews 2. In this Psalm, we read about human beings that God set them over all the works of his hands.

As we read Genesis 1 and Psalm 8, the original freedom and royal dignity of humanity impresses us. Adam was a creature-King and Eve a creature-Queen, both of them reflecting the glory and dominion of God. As Psalm 8 says, God crowned man and woman with glory and honour!

It’s so terribly ironic, then, to now see humanity, created to rule, in bondage. When former rulers show up wearing chains, we know this is a tragedy. Kings and Queens have become slaves, paralyzed by fear. Sin has led to death and death brings humanity into the grip of the Lord of death. Not much is left of the creational gift of glory and honour!

The knowledge of inevitable death mocks even our greatest human accomplishments. Whatever we accomplish as human beings seems meaningless because of the shadow of death looming over us. Why care for the earth, why develop our talents and gifts, why develop a civilization if, in the end, all your accomplishments fall into the black hole of death? Isn’t human culture inescapably a culture of death?

Today we go to work. We try to achieve something worthwhile in the world. But tomorrow we get sick. Perhaps we undergo an operation that leaves us weak. We hear bad news from a doctor. We visit our loved ones in hospitals. We attend funerals and read obituaries. Despite our diligent striving for wellness, in the back of our minds lurks the controlling knowledge that we shall die.

The text quoted above proclaims to us the glad tidings of Christ’s victory over death. By dying, He destroyed the one who holds the power of death, that is, the devil. By making his human life an atoning sacrifice for sin, our Lord Jesus has broken the controlling hold of death. He carried our guilt and so took away the curse of death that lay upon us. In Christ, the fear of death fades away and is replaced by the growing joy of living.

As we read Hebrews 2, we’re reminded that God’s liberating action is never an end in itself. When God set his people free from Pharaoh it was in order that they might serve Him (e.g. Exodus 8:1). Why then did Christ share in our humanity? Why did He suffer and die? Why did He rise again? The answer is that He did so in order to restore people to service – in accordance with the mandate given in Genesis and celebrated in Psalm 8.

Psalm 8 is currently fulfilled in the rule of our Lord Jesus Christ over all creation. As the last Adam, our Lord exercises dominion over all creation. It’s important for us to realize that the present glory of Jesus displays to us the future glory of our own human vocation. The glory of Christ’s rule is a glory in which we who believe will share.

Nor is our participation in Christ’s rule wholly future. Already in this life, we are restored to office as creature-Kings and creature-Queens. By faith, we share in Christ’s royal office. Our victorious Lord sets us free from the fear of death so that we may become faithful cultural workers. Also in our lives, Psalm 8 is being fulfilled!

As long as the fear of death rules us, we’re paralyzed. The fruit of our work seems to be no more than fuel for the fire. When, however, the joy of life in Christ drives out the fear of death, then we can begin to use our talents and gifts for God. We learn to be Christian cultural workers, Christian thinkers and planners, believing tradesmen and artisans, Christian housekeepers, Christian family builders, Christian business people, Christian educators, Christian farmers and Christian politicians and lawmakers.

Have you caught the excitement of Christ’s victory? Then get to work. Work energetically. Work faithfully. Work joyfully. In Christ, your work is not in vain.