“His Kingdom is Forever”

Today there are some big decisions for the kingdom of America. Millions of votes will continue to pour in. Some politicians will continue in the office which they currently hold while others are replaced. Policies will be created for good or for bad; results will follow which some of us will rejoice over and while others mourn. Today, November 3rd, 2020, is a big day for us all.

Let us think

Whatever the result of the election is (whenever we actually find out…it will probably be a few weeks), but whoever wins we have practical lessons to learn from the Bible’s teaching of The Kingdom. We are going to look to scripture but for now allow me to summarize with the final words of Luther’s great hymn:

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill:

God’s truth abideth still,

His Kingdom is forever.

“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

“The body they may kill”???…hang with me…I’m not going all doom and gloom…its in the final verse…I can’t just erase original information like I was a news anchor for a main stream news feed…but anyhoo. Whoever wins 2020, whatever happens in this temporary event, we can take hope and application from the teaching of the Bible regarding The Kingdom of God.

Thought #1

Times & Seasons Changed: God as the eternal, unchanging, unchallenged King I will talk about later in more detail. For now I will speak with that presupposition. In God’s kingly (regal) rule he changes things up according to his plan and for his purposes. Our nation has experienced a kind and level of prosperity which few nations have in all of history. Yet, it is a nation experienced by those in it and also those outside. International economy, policies, and relations have America’s hands all over them. Which leads to the thought: If this election be the first large step toward the decay of this nation what does that look like for the world? It is interesting that this question has arisen at other times in history but one in particular comes to mind: Rome. When Rome began to crumble many Christians expressed great concern for the future. After all, Rome held the known world together: “What does a world without Rome look like?” It was at this time that a classic, although controversial in some ways, was written by Aurelius Augustine: City of God. I would summarize a major theme of that book by noting how he explains that God’s kingdom and its purposes will never be thwarted. No matter how tumultuous life, culture, or nations may seem, God’s will remains fixed and unthreatened. And it is in the certainty of God’s plan and the purpose he has that we can hope, for when “times and seasons” change we know it is by the sovereign hand of God. Such changes may be pleasant or troublesome yet for those in Christ our hope and contentment is to transcend any difficulty or bliss of this world.

He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding.

Daniel 2:21

Thought #2

Kings Removed & Set up: Brethren, our God and Savior is both good and wise. We know this to be true by the constant and robust testimony of scripture. Therefore, whoever he removes and whoever he sets up is going to be in or out of that office according to His wisdom and good character.

He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding.

Daniel 2:21

Thought #3

Eternal Reign & Eternal Perspective: In Daniel 4 we read of king Nebuchadnezzar being restored as king of Babylon after God had taken his mind. However, not only are the following words from a man restored back to his throne, but also restored to his God and creator. The story laid out in Daniel 3&4 conveys the conversion of king Nebuchadnezzar (Voddie Baucham has an excellent sermon on the conversion of this king). Now the following is exclaimed by this new man of God and king of men:

I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”

Daniel 4:34-35

The dominion, that is, the kingship of our God is an everlasting kingship. It has no beginning nor does it have an end; it is an eternal reign. Our God has been ruling according to his good pleasure and wisdom from before time. The psalmist shares with us this mind blowing truth: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Ps. 115:3).

This robust biblical teaching of God’s everlasting dominion should lead our mind to have an eternal perspective on life. Observe, Jesus has called us into this everlasting kingdom by repentance of sin and belief in the gospel (Mark 1:14-15). Belief in the gospel looks like trust in the sacrifice of Christ for sin. Therefore, all who have repented and believed are now a part of the kingdom. We have received it and wait to finally enter it in its fullness at the return of our Savior (Mark 10:15).

The truth of God’s everlasting kingship which we have submitted to by belief in the gospel is in fact our present participation in the kingdom of God in the here and now. If then we are a part of this kingdom we can lift our eyes up from the chaos of current times, for all saints in whatever age, by remembering that “our citizenship is in heaven, [and] from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). This is not the idea that we just grit our teeth and muscle through til the rapture. No! This is a hope giving idea that strengthens us and girds us for the moment.

Even IF (IIFFFFFFFF!!!!) the norm we know as a peaceful country, prosperous (even the poor of America are rich in the world), safe, opportunistic, educated, economical, structured, and governed should dissolve we may joyously and confidently live on. We go on in life, life in this world, in our communities because: “His Kingdom is Forever.”

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill:

God’s truth abideth still,

His Kingdom is forever.

You and I are members of an eternal kingdom, therefore we must live with an eternal perspective. It is such a perspective that when lived out will be used to draw people to faith and embolden weaker brethren. Whether you die healthy or sick, rich or poor, educated or ignorant; whether it be in a nation that is strong and developing or it be a country frail and faltering, no matter, the child of God is a child of the King. We have hope.

Let me once again say this so as to not be misunderstood. It is common to think of our place in God’s kingdom as an idea that keeps us only looking to the future where there is no more pain or tears. We should not allow an eternal perspective to move us toward just biting our nails, waiting for the rapture, and so remove our attention and service from our neighbors. No. The eternal perspective on life should lead us and strengthen us to run the race, to be salt and light, to be last of all and servant of all, to fight the good fight, to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, disciple, and fellowship with the brethren here and now.

Final Thoughts

The dominion of our God is one without beginning nor end. It manifests itself in different ways according to God’s plan (we will see in the next post). In light of that let us remember today that it is this King who “changes times and seasons; removes kings and sets up kings.” The outcome of today’s vote is according to the good and wise plan of God. If God is merciful to our nation in whom he gives us as leaders let us worship him for it. Do not neglect to thank him. Yet if he should further exercise judgement by giving poor and perverse leaders let us trust his goodness and wisdom. We will cast our vote and God will place leaders in office.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21