Kingdom Forever

Run, hide, the Babylonians are about to attack us… I reckon this does not scare anyone today, but there were days when it did. When the mention of names like Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander the great, Pharaoh, Harold, and not too long ago Hitler, Idi amini, etc. would scare a lot of people. These once great and powerful leaders and rulers, have lost their fame and their power decreased/disappeared completely.

We observe that the various empires and kings came and are gone. Each bearing the resemblance of the one before it. Failing as a result of what destroyed it predecessor – idolatry and love of luxury in Babylon, Persians’ work-based religion, the Greeks’ love of human philosophy and the Romans’ system of laws still affect the social, cultural and governmental features of the western world today.

Just as observed from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2, iron and clay cannot mix, our world is incapable of uniting as one nation and people. The division and conflict foreshadowed by Nebuchadnezzar’s dream resist human attempts to bring lasting peace. Cultures are in conflict, nations are engaged in civil wars and wars with other nations, struggles and tension exists between social and economic groups. The only answer for peace is found in Christ’s kingdom, the everlasting kingdom – the kingdom of which there shall be no end.

The everlasting kingdom. There is no reason to doubt that the right and true and the holy shall have the victory. All dominions hostile to Christ must give way. All kingdoms incompatible with His must be dissolved. Christ's kingdom has nothing anarchical, because it has nothing sinful in it; it has not one element of decay, because into it nothing that defiles can enter. Suns shall grow pale, stars shall become dim; the crescent shall wane, the crucifix shall fall from the hands of him that holds it; and Christ's kingdom shall extend over all the earth, and all shall bless Him, and be blessed in Him.

As Christians we belong to an eternal Kingdom. Our lives ought to reflect the nature of Christ who occupies the throne. Such a lifestyle is displayed through priorities, motives and obedience. Nothing of this world, not even its kings and kingdoms will survive the end of history. Holy living is the only way we can secure our citizenship to this eternal kingdom – the kingdom that has no end. Our faith in God should lead us to live as citizens of Christ’s kingdom. This involves living to please our king in every aspect of our lives – how we act, how we speak, and even how we think. And we should want our lives to be expressions of worship for God who “had called us out of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son (Col. 1:13)