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My friends, there is a new day coming! Learn all about it in this week’s PODCAST.
Matthew 6:9-10
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
You can search the entire globe and you will not find God’s kingdom manifested in our world today.
For this reason, Paul referred to Satan as the “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), or as the Contemporary English Translation puts it, “the god who rules this world”.
That’s quite a title.
In fact, it’s been said that many people see more evidence in our world for a belief in the devil than they do for belief in a loving God.
This leads to what some people call “Dominionism”. Others label it as “Dominion Theology” or “Kingdom Now Theology”. But what exactly is this commonly held theological viewpoint?
It’s basic theological tenant is this:
“God is looking for people who will help Him take back dominion, that is control, of the kingdoms of this world; being defined as all societal institutions including: the kingdom of education, the kingdom of science, the kingdom of the arts, the kingdom of politics or the kingdom of government.”
You see this in play when you hear phrases like, “We’re gonna take back our schools for Jesus!”
The most commonly repeated version of this tends to be, “We’re gonna take back our country for God!”
Now I hate to be the guy who rains on the parade, but the fact is this: No you’re not.
Now don’t get me wrong. Any Christ follower gifted in the ways of teaching, science, the arts or politics should strive to their utmost to reach new heights in their professions.
But his quest to seize control of the government and turn this country into a land ruled directly by God, with their interpretation of the Bible as the rule of law in this country, this is not different than Islamic states basing their systems on Sharia law.
You see, our mission is not to take back our nation for God, but to love people just as Jesus commanded and just as Jesus did.
When we pray, “Thy kingdom come”, it has absolutely nothing to do with American politics.
Not even Jesus strove for this in 30 A.D. Israel.
In fact, God promises that He – not us – will place His King in His time at His place.
This all comes to importance as we understand what “Your kingdom come” does mean in the Lord’s prayer and as we live in glorious anticipation of what God will do one day.
One thing it does mean is that our best days are yet ahead of us!
You see, today, we live in a world where war, famine, crimes against children and other innocents, slavery, human trafficking, abortion of babies and disease run amuck.
But as they hymn says, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through”.
That’s what “Your kingdom come” does mean. Some day (hopefully very, VERY soon) God will reign and we will bask in His glory. Maybe even enjoy a heavenly barbeque.
Today, even in the midst of all the mess that the world has gotten itself into, God laughs and knows that He will proclaim that Jesus is His Son and Jesus will have the earth as His possession. His kingdom will come. Not today, but someday.
And so, every single day we pray, “Your kingdom come” in anticipation of THAT day!
Anything that our planet is enduring today cannot compare to the glory that awaits. It’s beyond our imagination.
Even creation – nature itself – awaits the day when God rescues it from death and decay.
As Isaiah wrote: I am creating new heavens and a new earth. All things of the past (disease, abortion, slavery, etc.) will all be forgotten. Celebrate and be glad forever! I am making Jerusalem a joy. Her people will be a delight… they will be a people blessed by the Lord.
I can’t wait for His kingdom to come!!