Dr. David Jeremiah is one of my favorite Bible teachers. I love listening to his sermons, which are rich with Biblical truth. He has recently published another book, “The World of the End”. Intriguing, to be sure. I have not yet read this work, but plan to do so in the near future. Some may think that this is simply a play on words, but in reality, it is a thought-provoking title which piques the interest of those interested in Biblical eschatology.

Years ago, I preached a sermon entitled “Is this the beginning of the end?” It was not long after Desert Storm, when bookshelves were filled with books explaining why this was the end, that Jesus would come soon for His bride, the church, and the world as we know it would come to it preordained conclusion. It did seem, after all, that things were pointing to the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy which describe how the world will be during the days leading up to the coming of Christ.

Well, here we are 32 years later, and Jesus still hasn’t come for that cataclysmic event that most Christians are anxiously anticipating. I am one who believes that Jesus could come at any moment. There are no Biblical prophecies that must be fulfilled before He comes for His bride. It could happen before I type the next letter, or before you read the next word. He is coming – but when no one knows.

So, what are we to think about those statements – “the end of the world”, or “the world of the end”, or “the last days”? Are we living in the final days of this present age? I believe strongly that the answer to that question is a resounding yes! There is an interesting passage in the first Epistle of John that helps us understand this idea. Read carefully the following words from John’s pen:

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

1 John 2:18-19, NKJV

It is clear from this statement that the Apostle John felt that the coming of Christ was close at hand, because of the influence of the spirit of antichrist in his day. He referred to it as “the last hour,” a clear indication that he believed deeply and strongly that he was living in the very last days.

It is clear from historical records that the world of John’s day was steeped in antichrist sentiment. Christians were hated and despised by everyone. The Jews, the Romans, the pagans of the day all despised those who committed their lives to Jesus Christ. Multitudes were put to horrific deaths because of their commitment to Him. It is little wonder what John thought that it was the last hour in his lifetime.

But now more than 2000 years have passed, and Jesus still hasn’t come. How are we to understand this? How could it have been the last hour in John’s day, but the world is continuing as it always has? It is really rather simple, but still a bit confusing. In actuality, the last days began when Jesus ascended back to the Father after His death, burial, and resurrection. These last days will continue until we reach the time of the very last days, which will ultimately reach their climax with the last day – the day Jesus comes for His bride.

So, yes, we are living in the last days, or, to use Dr. Jeremiah’s terminology, the world of the end. The spirit of antichrist is going to continue to grow stronger and stronger with each passing day. Political systems, philosophical systems, educational systems, etc. will continue to move in a more antichristian spirit, while the number of sincere believers will grow smaller and smaller. Many will leave the church and never return, because, as John says, they were never really part of the church to begin with.

So, the question we must all ask ourselves is this: am I ready for that ultimate last day? It could happen THIS day. It could happen THIS moment. Are you ready? The only way to be ready is to know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord. Have you committed your life to Him? Does your life bear the fruit of the Spirit of God? Is your life a testimony to His glory?

It is not a matter of knowing about Him. Multitudes of people know about Jesus. But very few really know Him. Have you come to a time in which you realized your personal sinfulness, repented of your sin, trusted Jesus’ saving work on the cross, and yielded your life to Him? If not, you will not be in His kingdom.

We are living in the world of the end, in the last days, moving toward that last day, that last hour. The need to be ready is urgent. Don’t put it off any longer. Now is the time to make your salvation sure.

Blessings.

Will You not again revive us, that Your people might rejoice in You?

Help us. O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your name.

Psalm 85:6; 79:9, LEB

Our nation has once again come to a time in which we are given the privilege and responsibility to cast our votes for the political candidates of our choice. The lines of demarcation are clear. There is really no question as to where the candidates stand on key issues. The only thing that remains is for us to go to the polling places on election day, cast our votes, and pray for God’s will to be done.

But this raises an interesting question: how are we to pray? I have seen so many posts on social media echoing the much-repeated request, “God bless America.” Everytime I read that statement, I think, “God has already blessed this nation in a multitude of ways.” His blessings have been abundant and clear. So, maybe we need to add a word to our request that God bless America. Perhaps we should add the word “again”.

As the psalmist prays for his nation, it is of great interest to note the emphasis he places on God’s name: “for the glory of Your name”. and “for the sake of Your name.” He makes four appeals to God in the two verses quoted above: revive us, help us, deliver us, forgive us – and his appeal that God would perform these four works “for the glory of His name”.

It would be wise for each of us to ask ourselves a very serious question: what is the motivating factor behind my prayers for America? If it is anything other than the glory of His name, then perhaps it is time for us to have a change of prayer perspective. Let’s think for a moment about the four appeals of the psalmist in these verses.

First, there is the appeal for revival: “Revive us again, that Your people might rejoice in You.” Even though this appeal is from another verse, and even from another chapter in the Book of Psalms, it could be thought of as the foundation of the other three appeals. Revival is the bottom-line need for a nation that has strayed from its commitment to God.

It only takes a cursory reading of the Old Testament to see this pattern in the historical record of Israel. They would stray far from the initial commitments they had made to God, which would result in God’s hand of judgment coming to rest upon them. It would be during those times that the people would begin to call out for God to revive them – to restore them to the state of spiritual favor they had lost. In the estimation of this writer, our nation is in desperate of need of a spiritual awakening and a time of revival. So, let us pray that God would revive us, FOR THE GLORY OF HIS NAME.

Second, the psalmist makes an appeal for help: “Help us. O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name.” We are in constant need of the help of God. There is never a moment of time during which we do not need His help. But, as seen again in the record of Israel’s historical progression, there were times in which they became haughty, thinking to themselves that they no longer needed God. They had become self-sufficient, thinking that they had attained their status and their prosperity by their own ingenuity.

When one of the major political parties in our nation states forthrightly that they want to take God out of their platform, then it leaves no room for doubt that there is a large segment of our nation’s population that sees no need for God. We are in definite and desperate need of God’s help. So. let us pray that God would help us: FOR THE GLORY OF HIS NAME.

The psalmist’s third appeal is for deliverance: “Deliver us for the sake of Your name.” Deliverance can be thought of in different ways. In physical terms this appeal might be based on the desire to be delivered from bondage or servitude of some type to another nation. There were many times in Israel’s long, storied history in which they were subjugated to other nations.

But it could also be thought of in terms of a spiritual bondage. Many times the people of Israel strayed, spiritually, committing “spiritual adultery” as they sought to somehow maintain their worship of God while at the same time engaging in the worship of the gods of other nations. This is certainly a present-day reality in our nation. The founding fathers clearly envisioned a nation which would be built upon the foundation of Christian principles and practices. We have now allowed other “gods” of other nations to invade our nation, to enslave multitudes of our citizens, and to force Christianity into silence. So, let us pray for God’s deliverance: FOR THE GLORY OF HIS NAME.

And finally, the appeal is made for forgiveness: “Forgive our sins for the sake of Your name.” There is so much, from a Biblical perspective, for which we need God’s gracious gift of forgiveness. As a nation, we all need to be concerned about decisions that have been made which move us in a direction diametrically opposite to the clear teachings of Scripture. The sanctity of human life; the Biblical view of marriage; the Bible’s instructions on human sexuality; the Bible’s emphasis on the necessity of maintaining a firm and full commitment to God and His Word; and so many others, show clearly how desperately we need to plead with God for His forgiveness for decisions that have led us far from Him rather than closer to Him. So, let us pray for God’s forgiveness: FOR THE GLORY OF HIS NAME.

I encourage each of us to take seriously the privilege of going to the polls on election day to cast our votes for the candidates of our choice. However, before we go, and before we cast that ballot, let’s make sure that we are voting based on Christian, Biblical convictions. Let us take our stand, and raise our voice, FOR THE GLORY OF HIS NAME!

Blessings.

A good name is to be chosen rather than riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.

Proverbs 22:1, NKJV

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

Ecclesiastes 7:1, NKJV

There are so many verses in the Bible that would lead us to understand the significance of a person’s name. The two quoted above are only a sampling of many others that could be cited to cause us to realize how extremely important it is to seek after and to maintain a good reputation.

Pause for a few seconds, or perhaps even a few minutes, to ponder how people from your past would remember you now. I sometimes think about people whom I knew in my youth and early adulthood and wonder how they would remember me from those days of high school and college. I would like to think they would have fond memories of me, but sadly, they probably do not.

I was not much of one to give serious thought to protecting my family name by the way I conducted myself. As a matter of fact, I probably didn’t give it any serious consideration at all. I can’t remember even once when I mentally assessed how my actions would reflect on my family name.

Now that you have taken a few moments to think about how people from your past would remember you, think about some of those that you knew in the past and consider what comes to mind when you remember them. There are some you may remember as partiers, never giving serious thought to much of anything. Others may bring painful memories as you think about how they hurt you in some way. Still others may bring a huge smile to your face as you think about the positive impact they had on you and others.

Of course, our memories of those in the past are based on those memories. I would like to think that some of those from my past would be pleasantly surprised at the person I have become since those early days, but at the same time I am sincerely sorry for the poor reputation I had back then.

But I am so glad that the past does not determine the present. I am so glad that God, in His grace, gives opportunities to change. And, with that change of behavior comes a change of reputation. At this point of my life, there are those who would be shocked if I shared with them the kind of person I was in my youth and young adulthood, just as there are those from back then who would be shocked to learn of the kind of person I have become.

I can’t change my past – it is what it is. But I don’t have to be chained to the past, nor the reputation I may have had in the past. As a matter of fact, as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, my life should now reflect the reality of my relationship with Him. Paul says that as we grow closer to Jesus our lives should bear a close resemblance to Him. Read these words carefully:

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:29

I am a Stewart. I represent those who have come before, and I should be an example to those coming after. I should seek a good name over the riches of the world, and I should never do anything that would tarnish the Stewart name.

But more importantly, I am now a representative of Jesus Christ. As Paul says, I should be conforming more and more to His image as I walk in intimate fellowship with Him. I represent His name. As I profess to be a Christ-follower, my behavior should reflect the reality of that profession. If I behave in an ungodly manner, then I not only tarnish the Stewart name, but I also bring reproach to Jesus’ name.

Many years ago, I chose these words from Paul’s pen as my life verse:

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV

First and foremost, I am to represent Jesus Christ by doing all that I do for His glory. I should strive for that kind of reputation. Doing so will certainly protect my family name against being tarnished, but much more importantly, it will never tarnish the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And that is more important than any amount of silver or gold!

Blessings.

Worship. What comes to your mind when you hear the word? Perhaps the following excerpt will help:

What does it mean to worship God? Jesus states to the woman at the well that the worship of God must be in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24). How is this accomplished? As one attempts to describe true worship, our answers tend to confuse external ritual with the more basic internal truth of worship. Our experience at church on Sunday is only the outward expression of worship. The singing of hymns, responsive readings from Scripture, corporate or private prayer, and the preaching of a sermon are all parts of worship, but true worship begins in the heart. A proper understanding of the Hebrew word shachah, translated “worship,” will help convey this fundamental principle.

Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained

Please note carefully the statement, “As one attempts to describe true worship, our answers tend to confuse external ritual with the more basic internal truth of worship.” Note the distinction between external action, and internal truth. Let’s consider those two concepts with the desire to come to a better understanding of true worship.

First, think about the external ritual of worship. From this perspective, we could make a summary statement that defines worship as something we do. It could be thought of as an action in which we involve ourselves at certain times, and in certain places. For example, it has become commonplace to hear people refer to certain segments of a Sunday morning church service as “worship.” The “worship leader” stands before the congregation and invites everyone to “worship”, which is an invitation to sing the words of the songs prominently displayed on the huge screen at the front of the auditorium. This part of the Sunday morning experience is called “worship”. This would present the idea that everything else done during that experience is something other than worship.

If worship is something we do, then it is nothing more than external ritual. We have worshiped if we have engaged in certain activities that are identified as worship. But is that what we are to understand worship to be? Are we to live under the premise that we can worship God by engaging in certain activities, and thereby fulfill our obligation of worshiping God? Or is there more? Does true worship entail more than the engagement in external actions that are described as being “worship”?

To answer that question, let’s turn our attention to the matter of internal truth. It has long been my understanding that worship is not something we do, but rather it is who we are. Worship is not external actions that can be done, and then checked off our list of things to do. Worship is who we are – it is our whole being.

Of course the internal truth of worship will produce in us certain external actions, but engaging in certain external actions does not necessarily mean that we have truly engaged in worship. I can stand at the invitation of the worship leader, and I can sing the songs as they appear on the screen. But does that mean I have worshiped? Maybe, and maybe not. The external action has to be borne out of an internal truth. I can sing, “Oh, worship the King”, and my mind can be a million miles away. In reality, this is not worship at all. Rather, it is as Jesus said:

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

Matthew 15:7-9

It is obvious from these words that it is possible to engage in external acts of “worship” and yet never truly engage in worship. Worship is not merely attending certain events at certain times and on certain days. It is not having a set time and place for a daily “devotion” during which I read a portion of Scripture and go through a prayer list lifting individuals and situations to the Lord’s attention. It is not attending a mid-week Bible study fellowship, where I engage in lively discussion with others about key Biblical truths.

Worship is not something we do, it is who we are.

Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Each of those things could be worship – true, sincere worship – but just the act of engaging in them does not equate to worship. Worship is not an action or activity, it is a state of being. Worship is not something we do, it is who we are. It is that state of being that leads me to be mentally and spiritually aware of His presence at all times, in all places, and with all people. It is that state of being that leads me to spontaneously burst forth with praise as I become aware of His closeness.

The external acts of “worship” become acts of true worship because in them we have a personal encounter with the living God of the universe. Let’s not be guilty of simply going through the motions of ritualistic worship in which we worship with our lips while our hearts are far removed. Let’s be true worshipers, worshiping out of our state of being, living our lives for His glory.

Blessings!

It is hard to be optimistic when you have a misty optic.”

Vance Havner

How is your vision? I started wearing glasses at ten years of age. Each time I went for a vision examination, the optometrist would test each eye individually to determine the prescription needed to attain 20/20 vision. He would then write a prescription for glasses which would address the need.

I had gotten several pairs of glasses from the age of ten to the age of twenty-one. I went to a different optometrist that year, and once again the exam was made of each eye and the prescription was determined to give me 20/20 vision. However, this was the first time that after the examination was completed, the doctor put a beam of light on the wall and asked if I could see it clearly. I answered, “Yes, I see both of them clearly.” Dr. Price looked at the wall, then looked at me, and said, “But there is only one dot of light on the wall.” But no, there were two distinct dots of light, and I saw both of them clearly.

For the first time in my life, it was discovered that I had double vision. Oh, I had perfect vision in each eye, but when I looked through both eyes I saw a ghost image – double-vision. With the use of prismatic lenses, I had true 20/20 vision and saw clearly for the first time in my life. My vision has worsened through the years, and I have now gone from single lenses to bifocals and now to trifocals, but with each new prescription I have been able to maintain 20/20 vision. I see clearly.

At another time in my life, I had developed poor vision of a different kind. I viewed life through the lens of the world. I saw things from an earthly perspective. Please note that I used the indefinite article “an” and not the definite article, “the”. The reason is quite simple: there is not just one earthly perspective, but there are many. In my past two blogs, I have discussed the subject of a worldly mentality as opposed to a mentality which is based on the Word of God. In those blogs I discussed the fact that the world has a plethora of political systems which are embraced by different people groups around the world. And these distinct political systems are vastly different, with very little in common. Those constituents of one political system see nothing good in other systems that do not agree with them.

As one studies the different political systems around the world then it is easy to get confused, perplexed and bewildered by the contradictions that are clearly evident between those systems. Each of them will make truth claims, but those claims are clearly contradictory to the truth claims of other systems, and the result is that we are no longer able to see clearly. There are too many opposing voices clamoring for our acceptance and allegiance.

There was a time in which I was completely confused by the different voices of American politics. At one time in my life, I could have been rightly described as a far-left liberal. As a young adult, I was caught up in the anti-government, anti-establishment, anti-war, movement that was such a huge part of the American landscape in light of the Viet Nam war. Even though I was not a political activist, if you would have asked me at that time in my life if I was a conservative or a liberal, or somewhere in between, I would not have identified with any of them. I liked to view myself as a free-thinker, not conforming to any political agenda. I did not see clearly.

But then something miraculous happened. On Tuesday evening, September 13, 1977, I was gloriously saved by the amazing grace of God. My perspective immediately changed. I no longer looked at things through the lens of a fallen world, or a faulty political system, or would-be political “saviors”, but I began to look at the world through the lens of Scripture. Instead of allowing the Bible to be interpreted by the world, I began to interpret the world through the lens of the Bible. I changed from the state of having a misty optic, not being able to see clearly because of the confusion in the world, to being optimistic, seeing the world through the truth of Scripture.

Admittedly there are many things that happen in this life that cause a state of confusion and perplexity. If we try to interpret the Bible through the lens of the world, then we will be left in a state of perpetual uncertainty. But if we interpret the confusion of the world through the lens of the Bible, we will begin to see clearly that this worldly system is moving steadily toward it’s God-appointed climax. We do not need to be distraught, discouraged, down-trodden and distressed because of the chaos and confusion of the world, but we should be encouraged as we see the world moving toward it’s climactic conclusion as appointed by God.

Do you want to see clearly? Great! Then turn to God’s Word, and allow the uncertainties of the world to begin to make sense as we learn the certainty of God’s unfolding plan.

Blessings!

Each year, as spring begins giving way to summer, I begin to dread the coming heat and humidity of another hot season in the Carolinas. I have never been a fan of summer, as my body does not do well in the furnace of June, July and August. As soon as those heat waves of summer begin to wash over us, I begin dreaming of the coming of cooler days to once again visit us.

Well, here we are. The page on the calendar has now been turned over to September. Those most loathed days of sweltering heat have now begun to subside, and the mid-nineties have given way to mid-eighties. This, too, is a bit hot for my liking, but at least the temperatures are moving in the right direction – at least in my estimation. I am so looking forward to the colors changing from the many hues of green to the golds, and reds, and oranges of fall. Teresa and I usually take an annual trek to the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee to view this spectacular sight. It never grows old, and we never tire of the drive to see the beauty of the landscape.

The changing of the seasons always reminds me of the creative genius of our great God. He created a majestic earth for us to enjoy. He created beauty in all things. As Teresa and I have traveled around our beautiful country through the years of our married life, we have such diverse majesty as we have traveled from one state to another. Each is filled with its very own personalized grandeur. From the beautiful beaches of the Carolinas coast to the lush forests of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the terrain of these two states is truly awe-inspiring. As one travels west across the southern states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, there is never a moment of boredom as the topography constantly changes. Then, the piney forests of eastern Texas gives way to the barrenness of west Texas, and the deserts and canyons of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. The majesty of the Grand Canyon is a sight that cannot be imagined – it must be experienced first-hand. Going north from there one begins to see the silhouettes of the Rocky Mountains looming majestically and gloriously against the backdrop of the blue Colorado sky. The Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming are a tourists paradise.

This is just a small sampling of the beauty of this great nation. Again, showing the wonder of God’s creative imagination. He could have created a planet with no variation, no changes in terrain or scenery, but He chose to make it a planet with beauty at every turn. And then, to add to the enjoyment of His human family, He threw in the changing of the seasons.

As we once again witness the marvel of summer morphing into fall, let’s not be so busy that we cannot stop and smell the proverbial roses along the way. Take a moment, or a day, or a week, or even a month, to enjoy the majesty of His glorious creation. And let’s allow the beauty of the creation to draw us close to the Creator. He did, after all, intend this for our enjoyment and pleasure.

And in a spirit of praise for His goodness, let’s bow our heads and hearts and say, “To God be the glory, great things He has done.”

Blessings!

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 3:20

In my last blog I addressed the subject of the kingdom of the Lord. Jesus Christ, being the King, rules over His kingdom, which is not of this world, but, as I mentioned in my previous blog, is “other-worldly”. When an individual is born again into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ, he/she instantly becomes a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom. Being citizens of His kingdom means that we are representatives of that kingdom which Jesus rules.

Let’s think for a moment about the concept of citizenship. As a citizen of the United States of America, I have all the rights, protections, and privileges that come with that citizenship. Being a citizen of a free republic gives me the privilege of striving to attain my full potential, and of enjoying the benefits that will result from that potential. It offers me the protections that come from being a citizen, but it also comes with the strict warning that if I do not abide by the constraints of the law that I will suffer the consequences of breaking that law.

Being a citizen of the US also means that I adopt the cultural practices of the country. This is where the tension begins for one who has been born into the family of God and has become a citizen of heaven. We now abide in two different “kingdoms” and are called to be subject to two distinct kings. I am not referring to earthly kings, but rather to the one who is referred to in Scripture as the “god of this world” and the “ruler of the powers of the air”. Satan is the one who actually rules the worldly systems, be it a specific political system, societal system, the religious system, etc. When I speak of “the” political system, this is an all-inclusive term which would include all political systems of the world. Therefore, being a citizen of a particular nation means that I am under the rule of the god of this world.

So now, being a citizen of the US, and also a citizen of the kingdom of the Lord, I am placed into a position of conflict when the demands of one kingdom are diametrically opposite to the demands of the other. This happens quite often. This is the reason the Bible admonishes us to make sure we are living as good representatives of our heavenly citizenship.

So, how is the citizen of heaven supposed to live in dual citizenship with the world? Read carefully the words from the pen of the apostle John:

“Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

1 John 2:15-17

Note especially the words “passing away.” The present worldly system, ruled by the god of this world, is already passing away. This includes all aspects of the world. It is temporary and will one day cease to exist. Those who have placed their hopes in the world will pass away with it.

But, the one who does the will of God will abide forever. What a stark contrast! Citizenship in a worldly kingdom will pass away, but the kingdom of the Lord will abide forever. Those who have entered into a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, will live forever in that kingdom ruled by the righteous King Himself.

So why is it that many who profess to be citizens of the kingdom of the Lord place so much emphasis, and spend so much of their time, and invest most of their energy, on the things of this world? We are not to give ourselves over to the desires of this world, as John asserts, but are to live our lives for the glory of our King.

The apostle Paul says in Colossians that we are to set our minds on things of heaven. But too often it seems that many believers are so enthralled with the things pertaining to this life that they give little to no thought of the things pertaining to the kingdom of the Lord.

We are to live our lives with the intent of being good citizens of both kingdoms, but the kingdom of the Lord should always take precedence over the kingdoms of the world. We are never to look at any of the world’s systems – political, societal, cultural, and religious – to provide salvation that we so desperately need. Being good citizens of heaven will mean that we are the best citizens of earth there are, being law-abiding citizens who do our best to represent our Lord in the best ways possible.

But we are to make sure that our first priority is to live as citizens of heaven being the best representatives of our Lord we can possibly be.

Blessings!

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

John 18:36

A friend from back in my high school days responded to last week’s blog, asking that I would consider writing one on the topic of Jesus’ kingdom, and specifically how His kingdom is not of this world. Then, as a follow-up to that, how, or even if, Christians are to be involved in political systems/ideologies while not being part of those systems.

First, let’s think about Jesus’ statement in the verse quoted above: “My kingdom is not of this world.” There are a few observations that need to be made from these words. It is obvious that Jesus truly believed that He had a kingdom. This may sound overly simplistic, but it is imperative that we grasp the significance of this Biblical truth.

Second, Jesus came into the world on mission to establish His kingdom. However, He makes it crystal clear that His was not like other kingdoms. All other kingdoms were “of this world”. They had geographical boundaries. They were ruled by kings who operated from the perspective of worldly philosophical and political biases. For the most part these worldly kings gave little to no regard to Biblical truth, but rather operated from worldly wisdom.

Jesus’ kingdom was vastly different. Thus, His statement about His kingdom not being of this world. His, rather, was an “other-worldly” kingdom, based, not on worldly political biases and philosophies of men, but on the truth of God’s Word. It would have no geographical boundaries as do earthly kingdoms but would be a universal kingdom made up of every individual who is submitted to Jesus’ offer of salvation. Those who accept this offer become citizens of His kingdom. Thus, they become citizens of Jesus’ kingdom while continuing to be citizens of the nation to which they belong. I am a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom while at the same time a citizen of the United States of America.

So how am I to relate to and be involved in the political process of my earthly “kingdom” while also being a good representative of Jesus’ kingdom? I am, after all, to do all that I do for the glory of God, so how do I relate to both, and be involved in both, at the same time? I will strive to answer that by making several personal observations.

First, my commitment to Jesus Christ and to being a good citizen of His kingdom is priority number one. I must not allow my involvement in the political process of the United States to take precedence over my commitment to Jesus’ kingdom. My citizenship in His kingdom is eternal, while my citizenship here is only temporal. We must keep things in their proper perspective.

Second, being a good citizen of Jesus’ kingdom demands that I be a good citizen of my earthly citizenship. The thirteenth chapter of Romans teaches clearly that God has established earthly governments to provide security for their citizenry. As long as I adhere to the laws that govern our land I will be in good standing with those in authority over me.

Third, this dual citizenship will sometimes cause a certain level of stress as the kingdoms will sometimes be in conflict with one another. When the apostles were arrested and ultimately commanded to never preach in the name of Jesus, their response was simply that their commitment to Jesus Christ took precedence over their commitment to the earthly kingdom to which they belonged. If there comes the time that any earthly kingdom demands of its citizenry acts or actions that are contrary to God’s Word, citizens of Jesus’ kingdom must always obey Him rather than the dictates of man.

Fourth, my commitment to Jesus’ kingdom must always take precedence over my allegiance to my earthly citizenship. I love my country. I am sincerely proud to be a citizen of this great nation. But as I talk with people, it should be evident that I am first and foremost a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom, and my allegiance is to Him above and beyond any and all commitments I make to my country.

Fifth, I can, and should, be involved in the political processes of my earthly kingdom without being a part of that political system. The apostle Paul was led by the Lord to speak with the rulers of his day. He did so for the purpose of presenting them with the truth claims of the Gospel, not for the purpose of adapting the Gospel to those earthly kingdoms. The best way we can be involved in the political processes of our earthly kingdom is by striving to be good representatives of Jesus Christ in the process, and not be believing that one particular political persuasion will provide salvation for the nation.

There are those who seem to believe that republicans would lead us back to the principles upon which this nation was founded. Others believe democrats would provide the solution to our nation’s ills. While others believe that it is time for a complete overhaul of the political system by throwing them all out and putting an entirely new slate of politicians in office.

As citizens of Jesus’ kingdom, we must guard ourselves against thinking that our hope rests in an earthly political system. We must maintain the understanding that we are citizens of two kingdoms simultaneously, and that our commitment to Jesus’ kingdom must always have priority. We can and should be involved in the political processes of our earthly kingdom by being good representatives of Jesus Christ in that process.

Yes, we can be in the world – even the world of politics – but not of the world. Blessings!

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.“

John 17:14-16

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

Followers of Jesus Christ – sit up and take notice! The verses quoted above are words spoken by Jesus Himself and are of the utmost importance to us in coming to an understanding of our role “in” the world. Jesus gives explicit instructions concerning the believer’s behavior in, and attitude of, the world and the things of the world.

To understand Jesus’ words properly, it is imperative that we strive to understand His use of the word “world”. There are three different ways “world” is used in Scripture. First, “world” is used in reference to the creation – heaven and earth. John says that Jesus “was in the world, and the world was made through Him” (John 1:10). This is clearly a reference to the creation: the world being representative of the physical earth.

Second, “world” is used in reference to the people who inhabit the world. Reading further in John 1:10, we are told that Jesus “was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.” Here we see two distinct meanings of the “world”. The first, as stated above, is a reference to the creation, but then the statement, “the world did not know Him”, is a clear reference to people who have the ability to “know” Jesus.

And third, “world” is used to refer to the world’s system(s). It is representative of those ideological, philosophical, theological systems of belief that determine how one views the world. Thus, the words of Jesus quoted above, telling us that we are not to love the world or the things of the world. Why? Simple: to do so pits one against God, as the “world’s” ways are in direct opposition to God’s ways.

This presents the believer in Jesus Christ with a constant source of friction. We live in the world: the physical world of creation, and the world of humanity. We are bombarded with ideological shifts, philosophical shifts, cultural shifts, societal shifts, etc., which are all capable of causing major shifts in the way we think, believe, and behave.

For the believer in, and follower of, Jesus Christ, we are to go to the Bible for our beliefs and behaviors. We are to look at everything through the lens of Scripture, determining how we are to live our lives in light of cultural and societal shifts that are contradictory to the teachings of the Bible. If culture or society tells us something is right, but the Bible clearly states that it is wrong, we are to follow the teachings of Scripture.

I am fully aware that there are multitudes who would argue against my assertions. Some would say that the Bible was written to different people, in a different place, during a different historical era, for a specific purpose relative to them, there, and then. Thus, it has no significance for us today, since we are not them, and not there, and not then.

But for believers, we are to understand that the Bible is God’s Word, and it is eternally the same. If God said that something was sinful for them, there and then, then it is still sinful for us, here and now. The dictates of Scripture do not change with the ebb and flow of cultural change, but is constant, unchanging, and settled. Therefore, what the Bible calls sin is sin, at all times, in all places, among all people. Cultural and societal shifts that would state otherwise must be rejected by those who identify themselves as disciples of Jesus Christ.

We live in a world of constant change. Believers are admonished to guard themselves against the onslaught of the world’s systemic shifts that would lead us to embrace beliefs and practices that are clearly forbidden in Scripture. But to be a true disciple of Jesus means that we submit ourselves to the authority of His Word and obey Him rather than the world.

We live in the world, but we do not have to be part of the world. Let’s commit ourselves to the clear teachings of Scripture. Let’s be in the world, letting His light shine through us to the world, so that we can be a viable witness for the world. Blessings!