Appropriate Suffering

“For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Heb 2:10 AV)

The word ‘became’ means to stand out or be eminent because it is seemly and appropriate based on the criteria for such an act.  The author of Hebrews raises an interesting consideration here.  Suffering for our salvation was the eminent and comely thing to do for His creation because it was made by Him and He is responsible for it.  He is the power behind the existence of all that He created.  Therefore, if He created it and sustains it, according to the Apostle, it would be his ethical duty to redeem it.  This gives us more understanding into the predestined plan for the Son of God to give His life as a ransom for beings as yet to be created.  The Godhead determined prior to anything being spoken into existence that Jesus would die on a cross and redeem all mankind. 

That does not suggest His creation is entitled to it.  This is the reasoning of the adolescent.  He or she figures that since mom and dad are the reason he or she exists, he or she is entitled to whatever that person feels they need, whether genuine or not.  In part, that is true.  But it is not completely true in all senses of the word.  If a child is ungrateful and disrespectful, he forfeits the parental care due him.  If he honors his parents, then his parents are obligated to make every reasonable accommodation for the needs of his child.

This gives us a better understanding of the love of God.  Imagine two people who are planning to marry never consider that children are part of the deal.  They get married and do what married people do.  They are surprised with a little child a year or so later and resent this little bundle of responsibility.  After all, they had liberty as two young married adults.  They could enjoy their marriage relationship and a home of just two without having the work and dedication it takes to care for a child.  They treat that child poorly.  They do only the bare minimum.  They resent his very existence.  What would be the counsel to these two people prior to the altar?  Get married and never worry about children?  Your home is all about you!  Have the time of your life and never vest your love into someone outside of your relationship?  Would we suggest to them that children are never part of the deal and even if you happen to have one, you can ignore it as though it doesn’t exist?  We would never counsel a couple preparing for marriage that way.  We would do just the opposite.  In fact, one of my pre-marital counseling lessons is on child-rearing.  Children are part of the deal, and your responsibility as two consenting adults must be accepted.

In the same manner, the LORD did not create life to abandon it.  He was not irresponsible in forming the human race.  Some would like to assert as much.  But a loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God provided for the needs of His creation before He spoke it into being.  Jesus Christ took upon Himself the responsibility of a benevolent Creator because it became Him.  It was required of the position.  If He was going to create beings who would fall in sin, and He knew that ahead of time, then ethically He must make a way to fix it.  No, we are not entitled to it.  We went astray of our own volition.  But as Creator, it became Him to provide a way of redemption.  That is love!  Before God created you, he assumed the responsibility for your existence.  He assumed the duty of Creator/Redeemer before Adam and Eve stood upon the earth.  This is eternal love.  This is love before the fact.  This is love that we should learn to appreciate.