The Everlasting Kingdom

America recently celebrated its 250th anniversary of declared independence from King George III and British rule on July 4th. Our founding fathers established a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people” through an intense process of developing self-government that eliminates the need for authoritarian rule, like a king or other dictator. There must be a way to balance the interests and power of the elites and powerful against the strength of government. For the first 100 years, slavery caused great division in finding a legal system that acknowledges the rights of all Americans. Starting with the Constitution, many amendments have been added to address the ongoing challenges of life in America. These challenges are not present under an all-powerful king since he needs no approval from others.

He said, "This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots. "He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. "He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. "He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants.         1 Samuel 8:11-14

Replicating a legal system that works apart from a theocracy has been the testimony of American success in a world run by human authoritarians throughout the ages. In 1 Samuel 8, the Jews were deeply concerned about the future after the prophet Samuel became elderly, so they demanded a king. The Lord told Samuel to warn the people of the consequences of a human king. In the passage above, he tells them that a king will do many things that will serve the king and not support the people; they will pay a price for his promise to protect them. A human king undermines the basic principle declared in the Declaration of Independence that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The American experiment is a testament to the divine plan of God for his creation. The only foolproof system is one in which Yahweh is in charge.

Great is Yahweh 

Great is the Lord [Yahweh], and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom [malkut – reign of a king] and talk of Your power; To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty [splendor] of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion [memsalah – rule, authority] endures throughout all generations.Psalm 145:3-13

Psalm 145, a Psalm of David, was written to extol the greatness of God and His worthiness of all praise from His created ones. He is a God of majesty and splendor, and He does wonderful works. For all His greatness, He is also a God of grace and mercy, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all. These realities, when fully appreciated, produce praise in His godly ones. David then introduces the subject of God’s kingdom. The Hebrew word malkut speaks of God’s reign and His faithfulness to govern with justice and righteousness. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You (Psalm 89:14). Jesus came 2,000 years ago to introduce a spiritual kingdom, administered by the Holy Spirit, who will allow all to walk as subjects of the King in His righteousness and justice. As the Lord (Yahweh) is great, glorious, majestic, and splendid, so are the characteristics of His kingdom. Walking as a servant in His kingdom is to experience all of who He is!

According to Keil & Delitzsch Commentary, “God's kingdom is a kingdom of all eons, and His dominion is manifested without exception and continually in all periods or generations. It is the eternal circumference of the history of time, but at the same time its eternal substance, which more and more unfolds and achieves itself in the succession of the periods that mark its course. For that all things in heaven and on earth shall be gathered up together in the all-embracing kingdom of God in His Christ is the goal of all history, and therefore the substance of history which is working itself out.” The intent of human existence is for each one to find the everlasting kingdom of God in the midst of a fallen world. It is waiting to be discovered. Even King Nebuchadnezzar understood this: And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation (Daniel 4:34).

Like a Child

And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom [basileia – royal dominion] of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.                               Mark 10:13-16 

Jesus was indignant as He rebuked His disciples for standing in the way of the children coming to Him. He then announced that the children were better examples of kingdom believers than were the adults. The children qualify in their humble dependence on others, their receptivity, their acceptance of themselves and their position in life. Children live by faith. By faith they accept their lot, trusting others to care for them and see them through.

We enter God's kingdom (dominion) by faith, like little children: helpless, unable to save ourselves, totally dependent on the mercy and grace of God. We experience and enjoy God's kingdom by faith, believing that the Father loves us and will care for our daily needs. This kingdom is a spiritual mindset that the Lord is in complete control of all events and directs His followers by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). The child accepts the authority of his parents to keep him safe and lead him in the best way, no matter the situation. This dominion is everlasting, providing security for everyone who chooses to follow.  

Put on the Lord

But put on [enduo – endue, furnish with life] the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for                 the flesh regarding its lusts [strong desires].                 Romans 13:14

and have put on the new self [life of Christ] who is being renewed [anakainoo – made qualitatively new] to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.        Colossians 3:10-11

that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on [enduo – endue, furnish with life] the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.                Ephesians 4:22-24

According to The Bible Exposition Commentary: 

This was Paul's argument - you no longer belong to the old corruption of sin; you belong to the new creation in Christ. Take off the graveclothes! How do we do this? "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:23). Conversion is a crisis that leads to a process. Through Christ, once and for all, we have been given a new position in His new creation, but day by day, we must by faith appropriate what He has given us. The Word of God renews the mind as we surrender our all to Him (Romans 12:1-2). "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17). As the mind understands the truth of God's Word, the Spirit gradually transforms it, and this renewal leads to a changed life. Physically, you are what you eat, but spiritually, you are what you think. "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). This is why Christians should spend time daily meditating on the Word, praying, and fellowshipping with Christ.

Entering the everlasting kingdom is not a physical adventure but a journey of the mind to accept the person and work of Christ each day (by the Holy Spirit) as one’s source of life and peace (Romans 8:6). He has accepted Jesus as king and chooses to serve Him to find meaning and purpose. As Nehemiah 8:10 declares, “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Putting on Jesus as Lord happens at the cross, where the believer chooses to deny himself and makes no provision for the natural desires of his humanity (self-life).

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.          Matthew 6:13