“…and the government shall be upon His shoulder…” Isaiah 9:6
In this day of great complexity, when there is a barrage of knowledge, lies and distortions of the truth, there stands one salient feature on this battle field of life, and it has to do with the eternal kingdom of God. What is this feature? It is the authority of the King. In Isaiah’s great passage concerning “…a child that is born, and unto us a Son is given,” he brings us to look upward to SEE the King on His throne, having conquered all of His foes, and is presently reigning in His absolute power and authority. What is it that makes the reign of Christ so prominent, so dominant, when we consider the empires of this world? The answer is two-fold. First, this kingdom, and King, are “other worldly.” What does this mean? When Jesus stood before Pilate prior to the crucifixion, He remarked to Pilate: “..My kingdom is not of this world.” On several occasions in the Gospels we find Christ’s kingdom described as, “the kingdom of God, ” but also, “the kingdom of heaven.” That which characterizes the kingdom in heaven, is that which we are to long for, pray towards, and work for, on this earth, “…as it is in heaven.” The second characteristic of this kingdom that sets itself apart from all others, and so far above them, is that this kingdom is eternal, ever-lasting. Because of the perfection of God, and the holy character of His kingdom, there is no decay, no diminishing aspect of it, for there is no sin, nor its effects. It is as Christ is, the “…same..yesterday, today, and forever.” Paul lifts us up to see, from God’s perspective, the panoramic view of this King of the kingdom: “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.” (1 Timothy 1:17) How does the knowledge of this kingdom, and its King, apply to the individual believer? It brings before his or her eyes the ways and means of God by which He will accomplish His will, transforming the believer, and manifesting God in Christ by His Spirit in the world…TODAY. How does He practically do this in His children?
In writing to the Philippian believers, he wrote: “For it is God which works in you both to WILL and to DO of His good pleasure.” (2:13) This verse tells us that central to everything in the believer’s life is one’s personal devotion to Christ, God working in the heart to bring us into conformity with the will of God. In the “Lord’s Prayer,” the Lord begins the prayer by the worship of the Father, attributing to Him His worth and glory. He then proceeds to say that we are to pray, “…Thy kingdom come.” In saying this, He speaks of His reign in the life, the submission to His “government.” Why? It is ONLY where Christ reigns, where there is the submission of the will of the believer to Him, that God’s WILL will be done. Ultimately, obedience out of love for Christ to the revealed will of God, is the highest expression of devotion to Christ.
The greatest and clearest example of the meaning of the kingdom of God, and the submission to the will of the King, is seen in the life of the Lord Jesus Himself, on this earth. From the early days of His life, throughout His ministry, we see that in His mind and heart, He lived, belonging to Another, His Father. He was totally devoted to His Father, and the accomplishing of His will. Not only would it be written in the book of Hebrews, “…I come…to do Thy will O God, ” but we see Him in the Garden of Gethsemane declaring: “Not my will, but Thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) The evidence that one is living in the perspective and reality of the kingdom, is that he or she lives to DO the will of God.
Dear Father, give us ever, in this world of conflicting views, to always seek FIRST Thy kingdom, so that Your will be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad