The Image of a King

The Lord God's Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ While in office, Augustus Caesar issued coins stamped with his image and inscription. People understood that whatever bore Caesar's image belonged to Caesar and he had every right to claim it. Likewise, they could understand that whatever bore God's image and stamp of ownership belonged to the Lord God and was His for the claiming. When we come to Jesus and give Him our lives, the first thing He does is change our name. He gives us His name and calls us His sons and daughters. John tells us that to those who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Now as children of God, we are joined together with Christ and seated with Him on His throne in heaven next to our Father.
God's Constitution stated that we are citizens of heaven. That statement remains true regardless where we go. But we don't have to be in heaven to be citizens there. Right now we reside on Earth, but are citizens and ambassadors of the heavenly Kingdom, which is our true home.
Thoughtful Questions:
God's Constitution stated that we are citizens of heaven. That statement remains true regardless where we go. But we don't have to be in heaven to be citizens there. Right now we reside on Earth, but are citizens and ambassadors of the heavenly Kingdom, which is our true home.
Thoughtful Questions:
- When people look at you, do they see that you bear the stamp of ownership, indicating to everyone that you belong to Christ? Just as a coin bears an inscription, what would you suggest be "inscribed" on your face to let others know who owns you?
- In what way do you bear the image of the Lord? In outward appearance? In inward beauty? In words? In actions?
- Considering that the Lord God changes your name when you come to Him, does your earthly name have more significance or the name of your Father? Which one should bear the most weight? Why?
- The author tells us that we are joined together with Christ. What does this mean to you?
Please note: The Roman senate was called the "ecclesia", a Greek word that means "assembly" or "called out ones". Greek and Latin were both widely spoken throughout the Empire. Jesus spoke Aramaic, the common language of the Jews of Palestine, but the Gospels were originally written in Greek. The Gospel writers use the word ecclesia in passages where Jesus talks about building His "church" just as Caesar had an assembly of called-out ones--the Senate, so too did Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God and King of kings, have His assembly of called-out ones--His Church.
Daniel 7:27 John 1:12-13
~~W.R. Luchie
Daniel 7:27 John 1:12-13
~~W.R. Luchie