Jesus, our Lord, who died and rose again, is now sitting on His throne of glory—the highest place in heaven. Angels, elders, and living creatures encircle His throne, shouting “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise” (Rev. 5:12). Yet, we must not forget that His exaltation is not exclusive but representative. He sits as the Son of Man described in Daniel on our behalf. Because He passed every spiritual test with flying colors for all mankind, “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).

The King of glory wants us—His redeemed ones—to share in His victory. Before going to the cross He prays, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory. Glory has come to me through them. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:24, 10, 16, 22).

Although Jesus wants us to enjoy and exercise the privileges He’s won for us, we often fail to live up to our high and holy calling. We choose to focus on our failures, our brokenness, and our propensity to fall into sin, thinking this is a sign of humility.  We shrink back from the idea of being “co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) and content ourselves with knowing we are saved from our sins.

But how honoring is it to our generous Savior to refuse what He offers—to live in filthy rags when He has provided royal garments for us to put on? The apostle Paul wrote, “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber … let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:11-12, 14) 

We need not fear that by sharing in His glory we will diminish Christ’s exaltation. He wants us to live up to our new name, new nature, new purposes, and new identity. His sacrifice on our behalf meant we can now represent Him, as He represented us. We can take on His character and partner with Him in bringing the blessing of God’s kingdom to others. He wants us to “grow up in [our] salvation” and take on the role He intends us to shoulder. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:2, 9).

In Western culture, we seldom consider how our behavior impacts others. We are so individualistic in approach, the idea of being a representative for someone else never occurs to us. We think: Our lives are our own to live them as we like. We make our own decisions, forge our own path, and find our own happiness the best way we can. What we do isn’t anyone else’s business. It hasn’t always been this way, though. In past generations parents rebuked their children by saying things like: “What you did reflects on our whole family! What were you thinking?” “Do you intend to make us a laughingstock to the whole neighborhood?” or “Our name means something in this town… how dare you drag it through the mud like that?” Today, however, such a rebuke would likely be met with a blank stare.

We wouldn’t want to carry this aspect of a shame culture too far, but the basic principle is still a good reminder. Whenever we identify with something larger than ourselves—whether it’s a family unit, a civic organization, a shared profession (like educators or politicians), a religious faith, or a nation—we voluntarily come under some shared expectations and responsibilities. When we violate that trust, it doesn’t just affect us individually. We bring down others with us.

Believers in Jesus share a common identity in the family of God. God’s Word lays out for us our obligations, responsibilities, and intended way of life. Endeavoring to live up to these expectations (we never do it perfectly, of course) is a sign of spiritual growth and maturity. Jesus was not ashamed to identify with us and serve as our representative in the battle with evil (see Hebrews 2:10-13). It’s now our turn to identify with Him and represent Him amid the evil around us.

In Ephesians 5:25-27 Paul tells us that Christ Jesus “loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.” He did this so He could “present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” We might look at ourselves and think, Who? Me? Yet, this is the calling of every Christian.

Wherever we find ourselves, we are called to be holy and blameless—not to receive glory for ourselves but so that we can better reflect our Lord Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter what our vocation or place in life is. We may be a homemaker looking after children, a blue-collar worker, one who flies on jets and speaks for huge corporations, or a retail clerk. We might be a student, a farmer, retired, or working two jobs to make ends meet. In our everyday tasks and struggles, it’s hard to remember that God has “raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms … in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6-7).

According to this verse, we’ve been raised for the express purpose of showing the world the riches of His grace! We may see ourselves as unsuitable for representing such a glorious King. But here is how He sees us—captured in Song of Songs 6:4, 10. “You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners. … fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession.” Like the moon, our glory is reflected glory. We shine because we are receiving light from a greater source of light and power (the sun/Son).    

I like how Charles Spurgeon wrote about our role with Christ. “He has a throne, but He is not content with having the throne to himself. On his right hand there must be His queen, arrayed in the gold of Ophir. He cannot be glorified without His bride. Let the eye of your faith behold Him with many crowns upon His head; and remember that you will one day be like Him … you shall not be so great as He is, you shall not be so divine, but still you shall, in a measure, share the same honours, and enjoy the same happiness and the same dignity which He possesses. We have Christ for our glorious representative in heaven’s courts now, and soon He will come and receive us to Himself, to be with Him there, to behold His glory, and to share His joy.” (from Morning and Evening, April 22)

Lord Jesus, help me to embrace my high calling as your representative in this world. Remind me that this is not so much an obligation and duty as a privilege and joy. Shake me from my complacency and indifference so I partner with you in meeting the spiritual needs of those around me. Cleanse me from all remnants of my old, sinful life and let me be a testimony of your powerful grace. Thank you, my glorious King! I am blessed to be yours. Amen.