King Over all the Earth

“The Lord will become King over all the earth in that day; the Lord shall be One and His name One.” Zechariah 14:9

There is no greater dream than the prospect of God’s final rule over all the earth. The kingdom of God will finally be completely fulfilled, and all will be summed up in the singular goodness and holiness of God. In other words, all evil, all destruction, hatred and violence will come to an end and God’s kingdom, with Christ as King, will reign with all peace, righteousness and justice.

We know the world is a far cry from that expectation now. Even those who attempt to follow Christ and further His kingdom find ourselves giving in to the enticements of this world’s modus operandi. Even when we want to be proclaimers of the Best News Possible, we find ourselves using methods that leave the message with something to be desired.

So, it is easy to despair of that time ever arriving. How much rebellion we see, how many rulers luring us to serve our own desires for only temporary gain. Because God has not yet begun to extend His expansive and complete rule on the earth, many take this as evidence that He is lax in judgment. They mistake His patience for lenience. His desire is that everyone possible should respond to the truth that Jesus is Lord of all, submitting to the rule of the Kingdom of God in their own lives.

That is the purpose of those who have now decided to follow Christ. We are recruiters, if you will, for God’s glorious kingdom. We are an army sent with our marching orders to call everyone, everywhere, to join the kingdom where peace and righteousness rule. And, though we are an army, it is of utmost importance to remember we do now wield weapons of destruction, but rather the Word of God. The soldiers of God’s kingdom wield the truth that Jesus has conquered sin and death forever. We invite, not with coercive force, but with the power of the message itself!

And, unlike the weapons of this world, ours do not kill, they bring abundant life. For everyone who says “Yes” to Christ as King, “here and now” becomes a citizen of that future and glorious kingdom. Though not fully experienced until Jesus restores all things, we carry that kingdom within us.

We, as followers of Jesus, are to be a subversive counter-culture, no matter our country of origin, or our current location. There never was, and never will be anything close to a “Christian” nation. Only individuals can decide to follow Christ, and they, together, make up His kingdom, no matter what part of the globe they occupy.

Keep on marching, keep on proclaiming, keep practicing the virtues of this Glorious Kingdom of Love. The world will, some day, be filled with the glory and knowledge of God. Jesus did not die in vain, nor does the Holy Spirit work in vain. All is moving forward to a final consummation in which everything will be united, Jesus will be crowned Lord, and God will be all and be in all. Quietly follow now, and hear the promise that soon, very soon dearest, the Father will make all things right.

It is not His weakness that waits; it is the power of His patience. Because of His great love, Father God cannot bear the thought of one person missing the richness of His kingdom. How can we keep quiet about such beauty, such expectation, such thriving mercy and love?