When you know the plan, everything makes sense. The latest headlines and news flashes are less confusing and disturbing when you know what's really going on behind the scenes.
"Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 'Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!'" (Psalm 2:1-3)
Aggression and posturing by leaders of the nations of the world is motivated by a desire to break free from the rightful jurisdiction of the one true God and His Anointed, Jesus the Christ. These motives and actions gave sense to the mistreatment that the early church experienced for declaring the gospel message (Acts 4:25-26). And, this information allows us to make sense of opposition and mistreatment as we live and proclaim the message of the kingdom of God. We belong to a system and government that the world fiercely opposes.
If we are to truly understand the radical opposition we face by the system of the world, then we need to fully understand the vital truth concerning what God is really up to in the world:
"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.'" (Psalm 2:7-8)
God has begotten a Son, whom we know to be Jesus. Our Father is in process of giving to His Son the nations of the world - even the earth itself - as His inheritance. But, the world that God is giving to His Son "lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), so it isn't about to give up without a fight! Thus, the underlying cause of all world conflict and aggression is the mortal conflict between the system of the world and the kingdom of God.
So, what's a believer to do in light of this knowledge? Organize a coup to overthrow an evil system, and thus better serve the kingdom we belong to? You would be hard pressed to find biblical rationale for that course of action. No, rather, it seems, we live with the knowledge of the ultimate outcome, and the basis for current conflict and opposition. We seek to live in greatest harmony with the "constitution" of the government we truly belong to (i,e., Matthew 5-7). And we simply pray daily, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10). And we respond to His prompting in light of that prayer.
I'll likely be aware of news flashes throughout this day, and may watch some of the evening news later. But, no matter what makes the news, I'll know what really is behind it all, and it will simply focus me more on my true government and its inevitable triumph. May it do the same for you.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
"Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 'Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!'" (Psalm 2:1-3)
Aggression and posturing by leaders of the nations of the world is motivated by a desire to break free from the rightful jurisdiction of the one true God and His Anointed, Jesus the Christ. These motives and actions gave sense to the mistreatment that the early church experienced for declaring the gospel message (Acts 4:25-26). And, this information allows us to make sense of opposition and mistreatment as we live and proclaim the message of the kingdom of God. We belong to a system and government that the world fiercely opposes.
If we are to truly understand the radical opposition we face by the system of the world, then we need to fully understand the vital truth concerning what God is really up to in the world:
"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.'" (Psalm 2:7-8)
God has begotten a Son, whom we know to be Jesus. Our Father is in process of giving to His Son the nations of the world - even the earth itself - as His inheritance. But, the world that God is giving to His Son "lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), so it isn't about to give up without a fight! Thus, the underlying cause of all world conflict and aggression is the mortal conflict between the system of the world and the kingdom of God.
So, what's a believer to do in light of this knowledge? Organize a coup to overthrow an evil system, and thus better serve the kingdom we belong to? You would be hard pressed to find biblical rationale for that course of action. No, rather, it seems, we live with the knowledge of the ultimate outcome, and the basis for current conflict and opposition. We seek to live in greatest harmony with the "constitution" of the government we truly belong to (i,e., Matthew 5-7). And we simply pray daily, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10). And we respond to His prompting in light of that prayer.
I'll likely be aware of news flashes throughout this day, and may watch some of the evening news later. But, no matter what makes the news, I'll know what really is behind it all, and it will simply focus me more on my true government and its inevitable triumph. May it do the same for you.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:13 AM
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