A Different Kingdom
These are the two propositions. (1) Jesus came to take over from Satan as the owner and ruler of this world. (2) Jesus came to bring His own world to us: the Kingdom of God. Let’s see how they are different.
A few years ago I was driving a local-made car. It was an affordable, economy made. The carmaker provided warranty of parts for a certain period of time. Less than six months into use, the air-conditioning compressor unit became faulty. I sent the car back for repair and the mechanics fixed the problem, assuring me that it’s now okay. In less than two weeks, the problem resurfaced. I sent the car back. This time, the mechanic didn’t bother to do any repair but simply changed the compressor unit. After that I never had the same problem again. In fact the air-conditioning system, which was the most problematic part of the car for the first six months, became the car’s most admired strength for the rest of the eight years the car was with me. In the tropical country that I lived in, my car was well appreciated by family and friends alike for its powerful air-conditioning system.
Now, you will agree with me that there is a difference between repairing the air-con compressor and changing it altogether. It is the same with the two scenarios we are considering. Clearly there will be very different results from the two options, and this in itself proves that they are not of the same. Let’s consider further.
The British monarchy has come under some scrutiny in recent years, not least after the tragic death of Princess Diana. One question being asked is who will ascend the throne after the Queen. Some suggested that Diana’s son Prince William will likely be crowned instead of his father. But the fact is that whoever becomes the next monarch, there will be little change to the livelihood of the subjects of the United Kingdom. Succession of throne brings about continuity. What has been continues to be. If there is change, it will be minimal. The laws, culture and practice of the land will largely remain the same. The same cannot be said if there was an invasion by a foreign power.
The holocaust was without question to the Jews the most painful event in their recent history. During World War II, by early 1940s Hitler’s Nazi Germany had conquered much of Europe. Jews found themselves under unbearable persecution. Suddenly to be a Jew had become the chief crime, punishable by death. There was no escaping for them; they were confiscated of their properties, put into concentration camps, tortured and put to death. Six millions Jews in Europe were killed during this time. Almost the entire race was wiped out. All because Hitler had invaded Europe, where the six millions and their forefathers had made their homelands for centuries. Hitler brought a different world to them.
You might think that this is an extreme case in history, but so is the invasion of Jesus’ kingdom into our world. King Jesus is not interested in ascending the throne of this Babylonian kingdom; He wants to bring His world with Him. It is a world governed by very different truths and exhibits the glory of God every way we turn. And when it comes, there’s no escaping this glory. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5, TNIV).
The Kingdom of God is a far superior kingdom.
Photo Credit: Catherine Hadler on FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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