the Kingdom

God’s Kingdom and the Call to War
2/5/06
“If this is God’s kingdom, I want out!” Is that what we would say to Jesus if He stood with us today? He has been giving us kingdom authority and partnering with us from on high (and within) since His resurrection . . . but sometimes we don’t like what we see in our lives. “It’s too hard” we complain. “I thought God would take care of everything” we moan. Will we neglect to conquer, just because it takes works of faith, works involving sacrifices we didn’t think He would require of us? Does the Church want to sleep until the day she possesses the New City with her Lord?

What can be known about our role in God’s kingdom can often be seen in how He treats us, and what He has given us to use on the earth. We can look at the gifts God has given us to see Him preparing us to rule. Wisdom, prophecy, interpretation . . . these are not meant for paupers, but for princes. Because we can wage the good fight of faith, we are given protective armor instead of protection. Rather than leading us as babies, He lets us mature through real-life experiences, experiences that teach us the good judgment needed to rule in a kingdom. But many of us didn’t think it would be this way, did we?

One other important thing God gave us was His Word. We live in a time so hard, so full of war physically and spiritually that God wrote a letter specifically to us so that we would overcome. If we will heed it, we will wake up. We will stir the flame of our hearts into fervency and desire His kingdom to come fully onto the earth, looking just like it does in heaven. We have been praying as a Church for God’s plan to happen here where we live. We should not be disappointed that we have a part to play in its coming.

The part we have to play in God’s kingdom coming onto the earth can be seen in the stories of the other players. The Apostles built a foundation which we now build on. They labored in works which will live on forever, becoming gates in the City of God. Many saints have lived and died to preserve the faith so that it would be delivered to us whole and entire. They are a cloud of witnesses who testify of a God who is glorified through the works of men’s faith. But we have a unique part. We at the end are the final “Amen” to God’s works. It is written that the Lord will come with saviors (Ob :21). We are even more to be in His image, suffering to partake of His resurrection Power, laying down our lives in sacrifice so that His nature would be a living fragrance on our prayers. We will join them one day, saying “Amen” to all they speak about our God. Let us shake of the dust of our sleep and arise, for it is a glorious occasion every day to walk in the kingdom of God.