God is King of All

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Crowns

By Amy McMullen, Board Chair, Women Business Leaders

GOD IS KING OF ALL

If God is king over all, no election results or anything that happens on this earth can frustrate His purposes and no power or authority can usurp His sovereign command.  This reframes our fear and worry, helping us trust that our good, loving and wise God is – ultimately – in control.  This is not fatalism or complacency – but active trust.

  • “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others”.  Daniel 2:21
  • “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God”. Romans 13:1
  • I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.   Job 42:2

WE ARE EXILES, CITIZENS OF A BETTER KINGDOM

We engage, vote, serve, pray for our community, live out our faith . . . but we do so as citizens of God’s kingdom.  Our identity as exiles on this earth speaks to our hope, allegiances, idolatry of power, and our peace even when “the other candidate” wins.  It also speaks to our unity in Christ, warning us against division and slander against our brothers and sisters (Eph 4:1-6)

  • “…strangers and exiles on the earth… they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” Hebrews 11:13, 16
  • “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20
  • “That he might create in himself one new man … and  might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross… you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” Ephesians 2:15-19

WE ARE TO MAKE USE OF OUR TIME “IN EXILE” / ON EARTH

As Christians, we not only have a heavenly citizenship; we also have a citizenship on earth.  We have a heavenly allegiance to Christ and also a national allegiance to Christ, for we are told that while we are on earth, we are to be ambassadors for Jesus.  We are called to be salt and light in a dark world.  Daniel Webster said – “whoever it is that makes man a good Christian, makes them a good citizen as well.”

  • “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
  • Call to mind Daniel and how he used his time in Babylon for good.
  • Call to mind Joseph who was sold into slavery but yet ended up in a position to save not only the world but his family and this Israel from famine.
  • Nehemiah provides a snapshot of God’s desire that people function cooperatively for the common good.  He was confronted with what had to seem like an unsurmountable task in rebuilding the walls. But there stood Nehemiah at the unusual convergence of some unique circumstances (a King who could provide the permission and resources needed to rebuild the walls) and a unique opportunity to trust God and move to action.    He turned what had to seem like at the time an inadequate (not to mention demoralized) work force into a powerful group.  The entire Jerusalem community came together to complete a project that demanded everyone’s contributions. Each group was assigned a different section of the wall according to their occupation or family unit. Notice the phrase that is repeated over and over. “And next to him [or them]” is repeated sixteen times in Nehemiah 3.  And God recorded the name of each person or group.

GOD’S PLANS PREVAIL EVEN AMIDST SINFUL PEOPLE

As we notice the ways that our leaders fall short, we do not despair because we know that God has done some mighty work through some very flawed and sinful people.   God can—and does—work through anyone and everything, including our sin and failures. Throughout the OT, we see flawed man after flawed man leading the floundering nation of Israel. Each time, God uses even their sin to accomplish his own purposes. It’s not just that their sin can’t derail God’s plan; it’s that God uses their inevitable sin as part of his plan.  Just read Matthew 1 and you will see God’s lineage that is filled with sinners – Rahab, David (and through Bethsheba, Solomon). 

 Instead, we allow their shortcomings to drive us to the gospel of Jesus.

WE SERVE & WAIT FOR A BETTER KING

Praise God that we serve a better King: righteous, wise, self­ sacrificing, rich in love, just, slow to anger. Praise God that Jesus has promised to return one day to reign forever and right all wrongs. 

  • “Therefore, God has highly exalted him & bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… & every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-1
  • “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:24-28

“I will raise up a Righteous Branch for David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land…” Jeremiah 23:5