Kingdom

It remains incredibly overwhelming to realise that we live under a rule.

Before Christ, that rule was by the Prince of the Air whose ability to infiltrate every fibre of life truly tarnished a creation made so beautiful.  The effects of relationships, the damage done in marriages, families, communities and nations has been the backdrop of history since it began.

The wrestle within to pursue the right, despite the drag to a compromised position of accepting no right could ever be experienced with flawed man, persisted to breaking point.  This rule is not about bowing to complete depravity, it merely urges us to resist getting our hopes too high about anything other than mediocrity in this life.

So, sure be a ‘nice’ person who does ‘nice’ things, but don’t expect anything more than the tragic news you get on the TV highlighting just how futile it all appears to be.  Or the news that your Uncle has cancer, or the neighbour down the road has had an affair with the secretary.  Because stuff happens, as they say … or words to that effect.

It was the rule.  It was the way.  It echoed the death around us.  It distracted us with fairytales, and leisure activities and other pastimes that wondered off into insignificance, but took up a lot of time and money doing so.

That was the rule.  That was the way.

Then the King came in un-King-like circumstances, and lived in an un-King-like way, not based in a palace with subjects waiting on Him hand and foot.  Rather He was among His subjects, serving on them with healing and a glorious illustration of that which would last forever – glimpses of the world to come, glimpses of a rule that had been weaved into the very fabric of creation.  A rule He would be very familiar with, for it was through Him and for Him that this rule was designed.

To even embark on living under this new rule is awe-inspiring and breathe-taking.  It really is not of this world.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden