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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

A Great Day in God’s Kingdom


Why is today such a good day for the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Because Jesus Christ is still King of kings and Lord of lords today and forever.[1]

Did yesterday’s US presidential election help or hinder Jesus in the building of his church?

Nope.

To be clear, Jesus was not planning on working with the presidential candidates since he has his own kingdom and it only has one eternal ruler.

How should Christians feel after yesterday’s decision?

That we have as much reason to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice”, as any day leading up to the election and every day after. We ought to “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone” no matter who we thought was the lesser of two evils, since, “The Lord is at hand” and it is his will we want done on earth as it is done in heaven.[2]

Therefore, we will “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”, because it carries the promise that, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”, no matter what is happening in any country of the world.[3]

The US of A is not a Christian nation, and both the major candidates are on the same side in relation to Jesus (the other side). What they have said, have done, or will do, is of no consequence to Jesus’ ability to build his church. If the red dragon is already defeated (and he is[4]), it is only a matter of time until Jesus comes to judge the nations of the earth. All of them.

Our world needs a church that is so united around our King that we want his kingdom to come and save sinners from ever tribe and nation,[5] every ethnic group around the world, and we will not divide over differences in politics, or even of nationalities.

Instead, we will unite as that,

“great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”[6]

The fact of the matter is that the most significant government is on Jesus’ shoulders, and he will carry on his glorious work until the day of its completion. He is still, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”[7]All his brothers ought to live like it is so.

If you are brother to the Lord Jesus Christ, be part of his work, and keep looking for more lost sheep[8] that are the next ones to be delivered out of this domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, in whom there is redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.[9]

In the end, you who are children of God have greater significance in the eyes of our Creator and Redeemer than any governmental leader since we are the living stones[10] with which he is building his own holy temple in which he can live by his Holy Spirit.[11] Let your eyes and heart sift through the rubble of the world’s death and destruction to find the living stones Jesus would add to his church on any day, in any place, under any government, in the midst of any circumstances.

We who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”[12] Let’s live as that race, that priesthood, that nation, that people, proclaiming the excellencies of our Lord Jesus Christ in whatever part of this earthly foreign land we find ourselves,[13] and leaving the world’s feelings about their leaders to the world.

Jesus’ brothers have no calling to change the world. However, we do have a calling to make disciples of every nation, baptizing them into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit of the Living God, and teaching them to walk in everything Jesus has taught us about life in his kingdom.[14]

Let us leave the judgment of governments to Jesus.[15] Let us seek the glory of his name by being the most Spirit-filled churches we can possibly be in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior.[16] Jesus’ brothers are the only ones who can abide in the Lord Jesus Christ, as branches in the vine, and give glory to God our Father by bearing much fruit in Jesus’ name. Nothing has ever happened in any election to help or hinder our relationship with Jesus Christ. Today is just like any other day in the unfolding of God’s sovereign purposes.

How do we make the most of our lives in the here and now?

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.[17]

For anyone who has never heard about this eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, or have no idea how to enter, Jesus’ Book describes this kingdom in great detail, and the invitation to enter is expressed like this:

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”[18]

The time of God’s salvation is still fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is still graciously at hand. The invitation to enter remains, “repent and believe in the gospel.” It is your decision about this invitation that is of far greater significance than how you voted (or not) in any particular election.

© 2016 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)




[1] Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 17:14; 19:16
[2] Matthew 6:9-13
[3] See Philippians 4:4-8
[4] Colossians 2:15; Revelation 12:1-9
[5] Matthew 6:10
[6] Revelation 7:9-10
[7] Isaiah 9:6
[8] Luke 15:1-6
[9] Colossians 1:13-14
[10] I Peter 2:4-5
[11] Ephesians 2:19-22
[12] I Peter 2:9
[13] Hebrews 11:13
[14] Matthew 28:18-20
[15] It is a horrendous thought what it will look like when every government is toppled by the return of our Savior. Revelation 6:15-17.
[16] Ephesians 5:18-21
[17] Philippians 2:12-13
[18] Mark 1:14-15

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