Conversing With a Stick of Dynamite...Day 2

I had a recent profound moment.

It found me; I wasn't scouring for it.

Most days, I go to Bible Gateway and read their verse of the day. That particular day was no different.

I read (Philippians 2:9-11):

Because of [Christ's] obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth--even those long ago dead and buried--will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God, the Father.

All created beings will bow and praise?

Wait, all?

That is staggering news.

I hit the parallel translation button to read this in the NIV:

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Where is under the earth?

Another parallel (KJV):

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I have heard "every knee should bow, every tongue confess" for as long as I've heard about Jesus.

We are taught (and thus teach) that joining God in fellowship from now through eternity has as its prerequisite this acknowledgment of Jesus. What we often don't reconcile is the every person--every person--part of that.

Don't we have a time problem and a location problem?

Does it ever get too late to acknowledge? A time problem.

From what place(s) will every person do this? A location problem.

For now, may we ask ourselves: what do I understand and believe about this? This is critical because it is out of our varying interpretations of these concepts that we hugely influence others.

Tomorrow: The Fear Factor vs The Exclusive Factor vs The Love Factor.

Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.