by Peg Yarbrough

It seems like every time I turn on the news these days, I hear of wars and rumors of wars. Men are fighting to rule over other men, fighting for land and power. Some even have the audacity to claim that they are fighting for peace! (An oxymoron if ever there was one.)

In light of this turmoil and confusion, it is comforting to know God’s plan for the earth and for those who inhabit it.

When all is said and done, there will ultimately be one ruler, one King over all the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ. And of his kingdom there will be no end. All other kingdoms are built on sinking sand. As for the earth’s inhabitants, they get to choose to be in the Lord’s kingdom by choosing Jesus as their Lord today.

The theme of the Kingdom of God dominates the teachings, parables and lessons that Jesus Christ spoke while here on earth. It is one of the most important subjects in the Scriptures insomuch as it is the destination for all those who truly take Jesus as their Lord (King).

When Christ stood before Pilate, Pilate asked him, “Art thou the king of the Jews?” Jesus did not deny that he was “king of the Jews”, instead he clarified that his kingdom was not of THIS world. In this world the Jews would deny him as their king, and crucify him. (Acts 2:22)

John 18:36 – Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

And so Pilate asked him a second time, “Art thou a king then?” Jesus answered plainly that he was King, and that it was for this cause that he came into the world!

John 18:37 – Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

The man standing before Pilate was, and is, the King of God’s choosing. The promised seed of Genesis 3:15 who would come from the loins of David, and will sit on his throne in the future. In this future Kingdom there will be a new world government, administered by the King/Messiah. He will be assisted by the ones who were faithful to him in this lifetime, who are called in the book of Daniel, “the saints of the Most High.” (Dan. 7:13,14, 27)

This is mankind’s only hope, a restored earth that will be filled with the glory of God, because God’s son sits on his throne in Jerusalem. All who oppose his ways shall be dashed into pieces. (Psalm 2:9) All of man’s plans, peace treaties, and councils are hopeless because true peace can only be restored by the “Prince of Peace”, when he returns to earth.

Psalm 2 is very enlightening in this regard. The first few verses speak of the arrogance of earthly kings, ruling against the plans of the Lord and His anointed. Verse 4 gives God’s response to their arrogance: He shall laugh them to scorn and ridicule their foolish plans. Why? Because God already has a plan. He will set His own son, as king, upon Mount Zion, and give him the earth as a possession.

Psalm 2:6,8,9 – Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee [my anointed, my chosen King] the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

No earthly king will be able to stand against the awesome reality of God’s plan, His king or his Kingdom. The Psalm concludes with a stern admonition, as well as great comfort.

Psalm 2:10-12 – Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

The admonition is for kings and all who dwell on this earth to be wise NOW, to serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling at His plan. To “kiss the Son”, which means to surrender fully to Christ and to submit to him, because he is God’s chosen and rightful king! The alternative is to reject the Son, and perish from the way. (v.12)

The Psalm ends with words of great comfort, “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

In Matthew 6:10 Jesus prayed, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” There is no doubt whatsoever that God’s will is being done in heaven today. And just as surely, His will shall be done in the earth.

For those of us who have “kissed the Son”, who are living in submission to the King, we have God’s assurance that we are blessed. We will be raised up on the last day and assist our King in his reign on earth. We will inherit eternal life. We can be fully assured of that blessing because we have put our trust in him!

Some two thousand years ago Pilate asked Jesus, “Art thou a king then?” And Jesus said, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world…” The whole point of life is to choose Christ as our King, and to reign with him in the age to come.

When times look bleak, and the world seems ready to crumble, just remember that God is still in charge. His will shall be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Like the grass that is thrown into the oven , this present evil age shall pass away. There is a new day coming when the Lord’s anointed shall reign from Zion.

Christ is the King. There is no other.