One Rule

 

Christians know these words are true about Jesus Christ: “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Many can quote the verses that identify Him this way (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 14:17, 19:16).

What do these words mean at a time like this? How is it that we compartmentalize our earthly rulers and our heavenly King?

Prior to Jesus’ ascending into heaven after His resurrection from the dead He gathered the disciples and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

All authority in heaven and on earth..  What does that mean for us today? It is a truth from the scripture that should influence the way we see what is happening in our nation with COVID 19. Quite frankly, I am sick of dealing with it. The LORD is teaching us something and if we fail to see all He has for us, the pain will likely continue.

So, if Christ has all authority then He reigns over the current leadership of the United States. As long as they ignore His statutes, laws, and principles then asking God to “Bless the USA” is a futile prayer. God blesses obedience. This is not just for the individual Christian; it is for all peoples, tribes, nations, and tongues (Revelation 7:9). Even civil leaders.

You might be thinking, “I am a little guy. What can I do?”

1. Learn your Bible. Know God’s Law. It is unbiblical to quarantine the healthy, arrest a mother doing lawful work to feed her kids, and oppress families financially. Even more insulting is to declare abortion clinics “essential” while church services are “non-essential.”. We need to be able to point to these things in our Bibles.
2. Attend to your worship. God’s Word is clear that His church’s meeting to worship Him is worthy of persistent effort. Moses approached Pharaoh repeatedly asking to be freed for a time to hold a feast to the Lord as they were instructed by God (Exodus 5:1, not to mention Hebrews 10:25). Closing down worship services is spiritually oppressive. It is neither biblical nor constitutional for civil government to prevent you from attending worship.
3. “Be bold and courageous” (Joshua 1:9) Speak to others about what God’s Word says. The Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them has the best understanding of the most effective leadership. It is biblical to point out ineffective, unbiblical, and oppressive leadership. In Romans 1 He assures us that people have knowledge of Him and His truth already in them (Romans 1:19). They know the truth when they hear it – which does not mean all will accept it.
4. Recognize your King. As Christians, we must stop thinking that the sacred and the secular are separated. Jesus Christ, as the Triune God, has “all authority” over every aspect of life. The political leaders have to be made aware that for their plans to be accomplished and blessed, they must be according to God’s Word.

Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Right now is appears that the Lord has turned the hearts of the kings against their people in their unbiblical responses to this supposed pandemic . We have allowed sinful men to take control. We have watched as the standards to which we hold our national leadership have dropped (even lower). We see innocent blood continuing to be shed every day in abortion mills.  Just this week an alleged vigilante murder in Georgia came to light that was covered up by an official. Marriage, the family, racism, gender roles, public schools that teach against God’s Word, and many, many more things have been compromised for our comfort or the fear of ungodly officials we’ve allowed to become entrenched at all levels. This shows a clear lack of faithfulness in the people of God.

Peter said, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)

Everyone is under the authority of Jesus Christ. Those of us who know Him must stand firm for the “gospel of God” and model to others, from our children to leaders in our nation, that it is right to do so.

Do we demonstrate to others what it means to stand for Christ, to be ambassadors (who sometimes have to fight for righteousness), and to Worship the Lord as the “King of kings and Lord of Lord” (Hebrews 10:24-25)?