THE KING IS COMING
The year 2018 stands out in my memory for several reasons. I even gave a radio talk on some of its significances. In February I underwent surgery for a total replacement of my left shoulder. I was hospitalized briefly for an undiagnosed bladder hemorrhage. My Dear wife, Beverley passed way at the beginning of April. A week later, I was hospitalized, followed by internment in a rehabilitation facility for a total of five weeks.
In September, I visited Cuba on a cruise ship and in November, I voted in the mid term elections. Those midterm elections delivered several record-breaking outcomes across the country. One significant outcome came in the form of a change in the House and Senate makeup. Prior to the election Donald Trump, the incumbent Republican President enjoyed the benefit of having Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate. In what became known as the “blue wave” Democrats gained control of the House to break the stranglehold. This event was the first such turn around in 48 years.
In my radio message, I noted that once the elections were over, the nation’s elected officials returned to work, as they do in democratic countries. The nation’s business would continue under established rules, shaped by the usual give-and-take between the two opposing parties. As after previous elections, the government was expected to function with varying degrees of success. There would be agreement on some issues, disagreement and even gridlock on others, with both winners and losers.
Now, several years later, we know that all those expectations played themselves out and other elections have taken place. The system continues to work with varying degrees of success.
Regardless of how the opposing parties decry and denounce each other, there is, and will be, a sense of accomplishment, mingled with egrees of disappointment and there will be other opportunities for the populace to change the people representing them. That is a good thing. There are millions of people who, living under totalitarian regimes, have little or no say in how their leaders conduct their nation’s business.
When all is said and done, those of us who live in the United States of America have reason to be grateful for the opportunity to have a voice, primarily through the ballot box. Recently, I visited a country where citizens have no say in how they are governed. Elections there are a mockery—an orchestrated command performance by citizens who are monitored and their ations reported to the dictators. The reality is that they have very limited opportunities to change or influence the results. Their right to decide, and even their right to protest, has been taken away. The spirit of individuality and entrepreneurship is stifled.
So, with a sense of gratitude, I say, God bless America.
Having said that, I invite you to think about a kind of totalitarian government that is guaranteed to work successfully. It may, in fact, be labelled totalitarian because it will not be decided upon by popular choice or chosen at the ballot box. The ruler of that kingdom has been selected by Almighty God and has been in preparation mode for
Centuries. That kingdom is one which I anticipate with confidence, joy, and eternal delight. The Ruler of that kingdom will not win His office at the ballot box. He will not need to spend millions of dollars to make promises and then break them. This Leader has been chosen by Almighty God and will reign forever. His Kingdom will be built on truth and ruled with divine justice.
The prophet Isaiah painted a predictive picture of that King and His kingdom. In Isaiah, chapter nine, we have this word picture of the King who is coming:: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
This passage of scripture is most popular during the Christmas season, and it may be that while you are reading this, it’s not in the Christmas season, but this is a good promise for every season of the year and every season of life. Isaiah wrote that prophetic statement seven hundred years before Jesus came as the babe in Bethlehem. It represents a stage in the plan for God’s everlasting kingdom.
There is something both alarming and wonderful about that perfect kingdom. It is alarming because God is committed to keeping His Kingdom holy and free from sin, and He has declared that all people are sinners: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” That truth is troubling because, as sinners, we are unqualified to enter God’s pure and sinless Kingdom. So, where then, is the wonder, the something wonderful? The something wonderful is that God invites us, sinners, to take a place in His pure and sinless kingdom. I see a real dilemma emerging. A dilemma, indeed, but the dilemma disappears, the problem is solved because God, in Christ paid the price humanity’s sin demanded. In Romans three we are told that God, justifies sinners who put their faith in Jesus. In that case, our judgement is totally satisfied in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The conclusion is that Godis just, remains just and he also justifies the sinner who puts unbridled faith in Jesus.
The Wonder of justification in Christ is also a picture of reconciliation. Because of sin, which is disobedience to God, the Bible teaches that humanity turned our back on God. God, in turn, turned His back on us as people. We might label this “The divine standoff.”
When Jesus died for our sin and rose to triumph over death, God turned towards us in reconciliation. He awaits our turning toward Him in saving faith for the reconciliation to be complete. In 2 Corinthians 5: 19 we “…That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not counting their trespasses against them….”
Cause for alarm corrected. Reason for wonder embraced. The Kingdom of God is open. Hallelujah!
God who is just and righteous has, through the death of Jesus on the cross, paid the penalty for our sin. The Bible declares that “The wages of sin is death.” Jesus took our sins and paid the price through the ultimate sacrifice. In Romans 3:26 God’s provision for our justification is clearly stated. Just God, justifies unjust and unrighteous sinners who put their faith in Jesus. Romans 5, verse eight blesses our hearts with the comforting message that while we were enemies of God reconciled us through Jesus, his death and His resurrection.
This wonderful redemption from the penalty of sin and registration into the Kingdom of God is, indeed, good news - God’s good news. Jesus told Nicodemus, a prominent Jewish teacher, that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) he added that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn but that the world through Him might live.
The Bible provides us with several reminders that God has made abundant provision for sinful human beings to be forgiven of our sins and made eligible for His Kingdom. In 1Peter we read, concerning God: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
God’s promise of forgiveness and His invitation to enter His family and His Kingdom, is yours for the asking. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith. The gift of God is eternal, and it is yours if you will repent of your sin and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Romans ten, verse nine promises: “If you declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
God’s invitation to life is forevermore. Jesus, our Savior, promised to return for all who believe and embrace Him. In His last long walk and talk with His disciples as He prepared to give His life to provide for our eternal destiny said: “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me, in my Father’s house are many rooms…I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you may be also.”
The King Is Coming.
Audley F. McLean