The Unshakable Kingdom
Now those of us who have embraced the Kingdom of God, have become part of an unshakable kingdom that dwells within us.
Constitutional Scripture: Hebrews 12: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
It seems so personal, so straight to the point. Do we have a kingdom, the Kingdom of God, that cannot be shaken? The answer to that question is clear and unmistakable: Yes, the one unshakable kingdom, the Kingdom of God. Not only will it not be shaken, it cannot be shaken; for it is ultimate reality. Keep in mind, all other kingdoms are shakable. The kingdom of communism is shakable. They have to hold it together by force. Relax the force and it goes to pieces. The kingdom of capitalism is shakable. Listen to the news all around us; how that those who believe in capitalism are trying to force it on other countries. Now, if what I have just stated about the kingdom isn't true, then it doesn't matter; but if what I have stated is true, then nothing else matters. All science, all knowledge, all achievements, all nations, all people--all things-- must be related to this unshakable kingdom and must surrender and become obedient and get into alignment or else end in frustration and failure as well as decay. That is just what is happening in modern society.
Focus Point: In a world of constant changing is there one unchanging person or individual? Is that unchanging person, Jesus the Christ?
Constitutional Scripture: Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Answer: The answer to that question is a definite yes. Jesus is not changing. The King left it in print. What many call the Bible, but in reality it is God's Constitution to all mankind. Our views about Him may change, all the way from myth to tradition; but He Himself is and will never change from who He is. He is the unfolding miracle of relevancy; "the Pioneer of life". Always the same and yet, forever now, unfolding but always the same.
I have discovered that there are two absolutes: the Unshakable Kingdom and the absolute order; and the Unshakable Person, the absolute person.
Question: Was Jesus the Kingdom of God, embodied? Definitely yes, and this was necessary and all-important. For without the embodiment of the Kingdom of God in a person we would have read into the term "Kingdom of God" our preconceptions of the kingdom, which would all be incorrect and inadequate. By the way, they have done just that. We had to see the Kingdom in operation in a person. It had to be made concrete or it would not be conceived. Jesus is the Kingdom of God wearing sandals and walking. The Kingdom and the person belong together for, without the person illustrating the kingdom, the kingdom pattern would have taken many directions, with all sorts of meanings as it has already done through history when they were separated.
Focus Point: Remember, the rediscovery of Jesus without the rediscovery of the Kingdom of God would not be a full discovery; because a king without a kingdom, is a lone figure unrelated. The same goes for a kingdom without a king. But since it is a kingdom of God and a kingdom among men; then only the God-Man could be the illustration of its meaning.
Focus Point: Keep in mind, Jesus shows us what the Father God is like and also shows us what the Kingdom of God is like in operation. The Kingdom of God is Christlike and universalized. Was there any better way to introduce the meaning of the kingdom than to introduce it in a person? Was there any better person through whom it could be introduced than Jesus? The ages are silent. For there is no one better.
Constitutional Scripture: Hebrews 12: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
It seems so personal, so straight to the point. Do we have a kingdom, the Kingdom of God, that cannot be shaken? The answer to that question is clear and unmistakable: Yes, the one unshakable kingdom, the Kingdom of God. Not only will it not be shaken, it cannot be shaken; for it is ultimate reality. Keep in mind, all other kingdoms are shakable. The kingdom of communism is shakable. They have to hold it together by force. Relax the force and it goes to pieces. The kingdom of capitalism is shakable. Listen to the news all around us; how that those who believe in capitalism are trying to force it on other countries. Now, if what I have just stated about the kingdom isn't true, then it doesn't matter; but if what I have stated is true, then nothing else matters. All science, all knowledge, all achievements, all nations, all people--all things-- must be related to this unshakable kingdom and must surrender and become obedient and get into alignment or else end in frustration and failure as well as decay. That is just what is happening in modern society.
Focus Point: In a world of constant changing is there one unchanging person or individual? Is that unchanging person, Jesus the Christ?
Constitutional Scripture: Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Answer: The answer to that question is a definite yes. Jesus is not changing. The King left it in print. What many call the Bible, but in reality it is God's Constitution to all mankind. Our views about Him may change, all the way from myth to tradition; but He Himself is and will never change from who He is. He is the unfolding miracle of relevancy; "the Pioneer of life". Always the same and yet, forever now, unfolding but always the same.
I have discovered that there are two absolutes: the Unshakable Kingdom and the absolute order; and the Unshakable Person, the absolute person.
Question: Was Jesus the Kingdom of God, embodied? Definitely yes, and this was necessary and all-important. For without the embodiment of the Kingdom of God in a person we would have read into the term "Kingdom of God" our preconceptions of the kingdom, which would all be incorrect and inadequate. By the way, they have done just that. We had to see the Kingdom in operation in a person. It had to be made concrete or it would not be conceived. Jesus is the Kingdom of God wearing sandals and walking. The Kingdom and the person belong together for, without the person illustrating the kingdom, the kingdom pattern would have taken many directions, with all sorts of meanings as it has already done through history when they were separated.
Focus Point: Remember, the rediscovery of Jesus without the rediscovery of the Kingdom of God would not be a full discovery; because a king without a kingdom, is a lone figure unrelated. The same goes for a kingdom without a king. But since it is a kingdom of God and a kingdom among men; then only the God-Man could be the illustration of its meaning.
Focus Point: Keep in mind, Jesus shows us what the Father God is like and also shows us what the Kingdom of God is like in operation. The Kingdom of God is Christlike and universalized. Was there any better way to introduce the meaning of the kingdom than to introduce it in a person? Was there any better person through whom it could be introduced than Jesus? The ages are silent. For there is no one better.
