Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”’ ~ John 18:36
We often sing the familiar doxology “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. World without end. Amen. Amen.” It is a succinct statement of faith in the Kingdom of God yet, it often seems we are woefully unaware of the implications. If we were aware, then we would see more clearly with a Kingdom worldview. The Kingdom had not come yet when Jesus said, if it had, his servants would fight for him. The LORD restrained Heaven’s angelic army for a time so that God’s magnificent grace could run its course. For the moment, Jesus bore the immeasurable weight of sin alone.
The coming Kingdom of Christ was the central theme of His preaching and teaching while he walked among us. Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled” “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:14) Heaven’s gates opened wide and the unseen Kingdom of God became a present reality to all who would be its citizens after Christ’s death and resurrection. “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” (Colossians 1:13)
The Father rewarded the Son for His faithfulness with Kingship and we who repent and believe are Christ the Son’s subjects. Many Kingdom citizens choose to live in its frontier zones. Christ sees them in houses of worship each week, or occasionally. They often behave as if the light of Christ’s glorious throne is too much to bear.
Frontier Christians and those near the Kingdom realm prefer to think of the King as distant and ineffectual. They wear masks, like welder’s shields, when compelled to enter His presence. Fear causes them to believe they cannot see our LORD’s glory and live. Their fear is justified in a way, because one’s eyes adjust and permanently change after lingering in His presence. The transformation is so profound that the old world of the frontier goes dark and one simply cannot return to it. In effect, death to the old way occurs.
Average Christians are familiar with this concept and most will declare their death to sin and celebrate the assurance of Heaven when their flesh expires. However, confronting the reality of the Christ’s Kingdom on Earth as in Heaven requires acknowledgement that we all fall short of Christ’s glory - in fact, we unconsciously try to avoid it. Many of us deeply desire a more complete relationship with Christ, but remain inert for fear of the light of His glory. One wonders if, like Icarus, we fly too close to the Sun we will surely die.
It takes faith to walk toward His glory. It takes courage to leave the oddly comfortable dimly lit, grey world of the flesh behind. Ironically, many American Christians push further from the heart of Christ’s Kingdom because of innate pride in their rugged independence, bold frontier explorations, and dedication to freedom at all costs. “We rebelled against kings and kingdoms,” they declare. Such persons audaciously rewrite the gospel with a uniquely American twist, combining patriotic legends with superficial biblical concepts. Others prefer the dark frontier periphery of the Kingdom because they fancy themselves as sources of light, aligning themselves with the lesser gods of the flesh. Moving closer to His glory diminishes them and their assumed status.
Right now, you may wonder what sort of encouragement is coming, if any. So far, it sounds like a put-down or just an overly hard message to accept. “Here he goes again, saying I’m not good enough!” I’m speaking to myself too and, believe me, I get it. Beloved, the LORD compels me to speak truth in love so that we might strive for the heart of His Kingdom together. The long, dark winter nights of our land remind us that, if not for the gentle rising of the sun, we would emerge into the brief daylight only to be blind for a time as our eyes adjust. So it is with pressing on toward the King’s throne. What we once saw only dimly, we gradually see with greater clarity than we thought possible.
Consider the exceedingly grey times we are presently enduring. Everyone seems to move cautiously through the days as if constantly rounding a bend in the road, fearful of what lies just out of view immediately ahead. People are so risk-averse that they refuse to make commitments and choose to hoard their time and possessions. The old, grey faith of their predecessors no longer brings comfort and they distrust nearly all public figures, even religious leaders (Sadly, often for good reason).
Have you noticed that survival supplies are in high demand? Have you seen advertisements for powerful flashlights that will illuminate vast areas and far ahead on one’s path? People instinctively fear the dark unseen roads ahead, yet they distrust those who profess to possess the light. As stated above, distrust and the vanity of false sources of light have bred extreme caution.
Beloved of God, there is only ONE true light. It radiates from the throne of our King, Lord Jesus Christ. When we look to Him and move toward His glory, we leave fear and failure behind. We see the world the way it really is. Gradual illumination reveals false gods of the carnal and lights the path of righteousness.
How do you see the lighted Way of our King? Jesus said, 'It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. (John 6:45) The divine irony is that one must hear the Word of God in order to see the light of the Son’s glory. The eyes deceive, but the ears become more effective in the dark. Therefore, hear the Word of God spoken in truth and love. Close your eyes and listen, or in this case, read the words aloud and listen for the King’s voice. Do you hear Him calling you home? I hope and pray so.
Recommended Reading:
Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom by Frank Viola
The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis
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