A Cosmic Theater

Modern theater can be traced back to the 6th century in Greece; it grew out of a religious ceremony where fifty men chanted a choral song to the god Dionysus. In 534 bc, Thespis of Attica was the first person to speak individual lines to this song. He soon added narration and acted out dramatic episodes. He was so influential that we still call actors Thespians.

Ancient Greek audiences stamped their feet to show appreciation to actors. Greek actors used large masks so that people farthest away could identify each character and what that character was feeling. The masks were built with a megaphone-style mouth piece to help amplify the actors’ voices.

The largest acting stage in the universe is earth, and the cast is made up of all humanity. We have been “made a spectacle [literally ‘theater’] to the world.” The book of Job gives us a glimpse into this cosmic play when the sons of God came before the Lord and Satan joined them. When the Lord asked Satan, “From where do you come?” (Job 1:7), he answered, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

This heavenly convocation reveals insight into a great battle taking place between good and evil. (See Ephesians 6:12.) Our planet is the stage on which a great struggle is occurring between Christ and Satan for the hearts of people. The life of Job dramatically displays this drama over humanity, which is observed by the beings of other worlds.

When sin broke the relationship between God and humanity (Isaiah 59:2), Jesus came to earth to win back the hearts of His Creation. At center stage between the life and resurrection of Jesus is the death of Christ on Calvary—the main act that will bring an end to this universal conflict.

Apply It:

What part do you play in this great conflict between good and evil?

Dig Deeper:

Job 1:6–12; 2:1–10; Hebrews 10:32, 33; 1 Peter 5:8

Key Bible Texts

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. (1 Corinthians 4:9 KJV)