Revelation 11:15
In America, one week following the election of a new president, tense emotions can still be felt in the atmosphere. Some are deeply disappointed, some terrified, others relieved and hopeful. Whether or not promises made during the campaign will be kept is a story only time will tell. One thing is clear, after the barrage of propaganda (both true and false) through media, letters and billboards, the people of this country have been exhausted. This has brought to my mind the following three points. Anxiety rules where God is not honoured, Jesus governs differently, and it’s time to confirm our citizenship.
Anxiety Is Real
I was exiting a grocery store when the headline of a popular newspaper caught my attention. It read: “United States of Anxiety”. I paused and considered the effects of anxiety on the mind and body. A writer from psychologytoday.com explains: “Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry, and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined… Anxiety can be considered the price we humans pay for having the ability to imagine the future.”
This challenges all of us to confront the question, ‘What are we hoping for the future to look like?’ Better yet, ‘Who are we hoping in?’ Philippians 4:16 states “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Even Christians experience anxiety, but when we discipline our minds to trust God’s wisdom and goodness in every situation we are not characterized by anxiety.
Jesus Governs Differently
It’s a common mistake to look for God to be manifested within our earthly governments. I’m not saying that He does not work in some way through the influential people in government. Nor am I saying that there aren’t certain laws passed that align with His principles. I mean, when we set our expectations on God’s government being embodied by our earthly governments we will be disappointed. According to the gospel of John, and others, Israel wanted to install the Son of God as their earthly king. They wanted to restore the government as it had been in past times except with permanence led by the Messiah. John 6:15 “Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone.”
The Godhead’s mission was not and is not to reshape earthly governments. Heavens campaign aims to rule within our hearts and therefore, influence those in government. Consider the following verses from Matthew’s gospel: 23:11 “The greatest among you will be your servant.” 20:28 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” From my observation, there isn’t enough room within the existing order of things for this mindset to lead in governments. Yet, this is how the Godhead/Trinity operates. Understanding how differently God leads should help us avoid placing so much hope in earthly leaders as well as create within us anticipation of living eternally within His lasting kingdom.
Time to Confirm Our Citizenship
According to Revelation 11:15 “And the seventh angel sounded, and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign forever and ever.” There will come a time when God will restore and reclaim all things to Himself. Actually, He already is by changing creating change within us. The process seems laborious & taxing but trusting in who God is establishes within us the endurance needed to stay the course. We may wrestle with questions such as: ‘What’s taking Him so long?’ or ‘Why doesn’t He defeat Satan with the snap of his fingers already?’ I encourage you, don’t be embarrassed or afraid to admit that you have these types of questions. I think they are sensible inquiries. But let me ask you a question that I have asked myself: “If today were the day, would you be ready to meet your God?’ A different question is: ‘Would He recognize you as His own?’ There is no room for dual citizenship! We are either citizens of Heaven through trust in the Son of God or not. The following two verses from Philippians 3:20,21 offer hope for the future of God’s children: “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” If we are going to live under His control then, we have to learn to live under His control now. Let’s make our election certain.