Jesus Our Forerunner
Bob Yandian
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:19-20)
What is a Forerunner?
A forerunner is ahead of you and already gone where you want or need to go.
A good term would be a scout for tracking or hunting. A leader for you who knows the territory. John the Baptist was a forerunner (Matthew 11:10) for Jesus, announcing ahead of time the Messiah had come and would be seen soon.
One great use of the word was a maritime forerunner, who dove into the water and swam ahead of the ship, through the fog, past the rocks to the shore and tied the rope to a secure rock or tree. The whole crew, together, could pull the ship safely to shore. All the ship’s crew could see was the rope disappearing into the fog, but they were confident it was tied securely on shore. The rope guided the ship and crew in between and around the rocks.
Jesus, our forerunner, left from the Mount of Olives, went to heaven, and secured the rope. Jesus has gone through every problem we will ever face and waits for us at the right hand of God the Father. Each day we live, we pull a little more on our rope and move a little closer to our glorious destination.
Jesus Announced He Would Be Our Forerunner
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:1-6).
Jesus was giving direction to His disciples before going to the cross because He had accomplished all He could do on earth. Now He would go to heaven and work beside the Father until the day they would be with Him in heaven. For most, He will see us when we arrive in heaven. For a few, He will come personally and take us to heaven at the rapture of the Church.
What Is Jesus Saying?
If Jesus has been down the road for us and has gone all the way to our eternal destination, then He has also been through all of life's circumstances. We don’t see past the problems we are facing, but Someone else has, and is now our guide. He simply says, “been there, done that.”
We Will Understand It All, “By and By”
Those are the words to an old hymn I used to sing in church. What it is saying is we don’t always know what is going on while we live on earth, but one day we will say, “Now I understand completely.” “For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Do you remember when you used to think your parents didn’t really understand life? They were old and you were young. You saw the world differently because you thought you were facing problems they never had. In futility, your parents would throw up their hands and say, “one day you will see.” Sure enough, you got older and found out your parents really were wise. If you were honest, you told them, “Now I see what you were saying. I’ll be sure and warn my children about these problems of life.” Oh yeah, sure. Your kids will think the same thing you did when your parents tried to tell you. What we learn from history is we learn nothing from history. But one day your children may say, “Now, I see what you were saying.”
It is the same with God. We cannot experience any problem or temptation Jesus did not face. We may not understand it now, but one day we will be with Jesus in heaven and say, “Now I fully see what you were saying to me.”
Today, I can’t see past the fog of time or the rocks of my problems. But Jesus wants me to be assured, if I trust Him, follow His Word, and listen to the Holy Spirit, I will reach the shore of heaven with less confusion and fewer problems. Heaven is a sure thing and my rewards there are sure also. I can’t see them now, but my Forerunner guarantees me my eternal blessings are waiting for me.
Maintaining a Heavenly View
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:28-31)
In these verses, Paul is telling us He has taken the words of His forerunner and ours, Jesus. He is also being guided by them each day of his life and so can we. Heaven, and our place, there is guaranteed. It’s a done deal.
Six things in these verses have already been fulfilled in our life and one is yet to come:
1. We have been foreknown by God.
2. We have a pre-designed plan for our life.
3. We have been conformed into God’s image.
4. We have been born into God’s family.
5. We have been called by God.
6. We have been justified.
7. But, we have yet to be glorified.
The interesting thing about all seven of these parts of God’s plan for us is, they are all in the past tense in the Greek. Although they were planned by God before the foundation of the world, perhaps billions of years ago, they were seen as already done. When I received Jesus, I walked into a plan designed by God before the world began. Six of them were given to me instantly, but one is yet to come, my glorification, a resurrection body. But even it is in the past tense. I am just assured of being glorified with God in heaven as I was to be saved, born into God’s family, and justified. God not only saw me receive Jesus before the world began but He saw me in heaven as a result. I will be in heaven one day as surely as I am saved and conformed into God’s image today.
My name is already sitting in front of my plate at the Marriage Supper table. Again, heaven is assured for me, a done deal.
How Does Knowing My Future Affect Me
If God already sees me in heaven, a billion years from now, in a resurrection body and glorified, then apparently, I am going to make it through this problem I am in. And apparently, I am going to make it through my next problem, and my next problem, and my next problem, until the day I die. I cannot fail. Why should I worry? All things, good and bad, are going to work together for my good. If God is for me, then nothing can be against me and no problem in life can separate me from God or His love for me (Romans 8:35). These promises form the rope, attached by Jesus my Forerunner, to the throne of God - my final destination.
