When asked by Pilate are you a king, Jesus replied that he was and without anger eluded to the spiritual kingdom of God and not to the earthly kingdom of man. We see a clear rift between God’s Kingdom and what man perceives as his kingdom. With all that has happened in Paris this past week, we clearly see a world out of control desperately needing a King. So who is in control in these uncertain times?
The world desperately needs a king, the one and only King, our Lord Jesus. The world is in a spiral of fear, condemnation, feelings of hopelessness and with the desire for revenge, which ultimately brings hatred. I was struck by Christo’s sermon last Sunday where he spoke of our need for forgiveness and a call for prayer for the victims and the perpetrators of the atrocities across France. Nigeria too has had unspeakable terror dealt out to her innocent people.
David’s poem inspired by the Holy Spirit captured in 2 Samuel 23 speaks of rulers of righteousness. Rulers in our world need to be like Christ when they make decisions that affect the lives of not only their own people but the whole world.
Verse 3: “when one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.”
How much is this needed now in our world, the light that Jesus brings into our darkness, the Christ light that brings life and not death?
We also see a warning in David’s poem, “do we take up the thorn, the tool of iron or the shaft of a spear for those who do they are burned up where they live”
Retribution is a man-made weakness as even when Jesus was whipped, scorned and humiliated, He continued to show restraint and forgiveness. How incredibly difficult is this for the world at this time and even for us as Christians who want to lash back, for us to show constraint, love and dare I say forgiveness for the Paris terrorists. BUT Jesus calls each of us to do just that and allow God to be the judge and deal out the punishment.
One thing I do know is that Jesus is who He said He is, the King of this world and the ruler of the heavens. Our worldly kingdom as has been demonstrated is one of war and violence. God’s truth is revealed in His Kingdom, the spiritual kingdom is one of peace and love. So in these difficult times be assured that those who follow the King belong to a kingdom that seems far removed from the one we physically live in.
May God Bless you and keep you close to His heart at this time and always.
Much love in Christ
Chris