No More politics (or Potholes)
Jeremiah 23: 5-8
Listen link: www.lecpc.org then look for “sermons” tab
How would you like to live in a country where you don’t get to vote for anything, not your leaders, not the laws, and not your taxes? How would like to live in a country where you are legally obligated to do whatever the King asks of you, when he asks it, regardless of what you thought you wanted to do? That may not sound very appealing to an American. We love our freedom and independence. We fought a revolutionary war to win our freedom and get out from under the rule of a monarchy. We like democracy and have no desire to give it up, right?
If you’re feeling that, how do you react to this news: “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” When that happens, will you accept it? Can you be prepared for that by this thought: the only reason we don’t like a monarchy of absolute power is because every human king who ever tried it failed to do a great job of it in one way or another. Even in the Revolutionary War, it wasn’t really monarchy we rebelled against. It was tyranny! The proof of that is found in the fact that once The United States won its independence, a lot of people wanted to make George Washington their King!
George Washington wisely refused to let them. He was aware of the dangers of putting too much power in the hands of one frail human being. But when Jesus comes again, he will be the perfect King, not a frail human being, but God in the flesh, who does live forever, and who will reign with perfect law and justice. Jesus is LORD and king! That means he is in charge! He is the ruler of all and that includes me and you. Our American culture, fiercely independent, doesn't know much about Lordship anymore. We are the free people, able to govern ourselves. This nation was founded upon getting out from under the thumb of a worldly King. We barely have any respect for authority at all, anymore. Just look at the culture around us and it’s obvious.
So, we probably have a hard time thinking of what it means that Jesus is Lord. We prefer the Love version of Jesus, the one who sets us free with Truth and gracious forgiveness. I love that spiritual freedom too! But I am also happy to acknowledge that I owe my highest allegiance and obedience to My LORD. Therefore, I wish to use my freedom in Christ to honor and serve Him. The one who saved me from the death and condemnation I deserved, by dying for me on the cross so I can live forever, deserves nothing less than all I can give him. It all comes from him anyway.
And since I completely trust in his great wisdom and good will, I know that his plan is best. I know I will be most blessed if I obey him. So, it is no hardship at all! In fact it is my great joy to be totally devoted to the God of the Universe who just happens to also be totally devoted to me and my well-being, and you and your well-being (Not your idea of it, His true knowledge of it), because He is totally devoted to the redemption and restoration of the whole world to become a place of peace and joy and He wants all of us to be part of that. That will become our reality in the near future. Christians like to say, "Soon, and very soon!" Don't be left out!
Imagine, no more politics! No more election campaigning. That’s a big relief all by itself. But also, no more mudslinging. No more scandals. No more unfair taxes. And that’s just state side. How do you feel about no more trade wars? No more economic downturns or recessions, no more wars of any kind, and no more illness, hunger or poverty anywhere. Perfect administration of all things necessary will also mean no more wasted resources, no more bureaucratic deficiencies or incompetence. So, everything will run smoothly, right down to no more potholes!
One day, when Jesu comes again. That’s the way it will be. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
And Isaiah 9:7 says, “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
But until that day, so what? We’re living in the here and now, with the world the way it is. Can that hope of peace in the future have any impact on how I live today? Yes. It is supposed to make all the difference in the world! We do not live as those who have no hope. And we have the peace of Christ in our hearts now. As Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” We carry that peace around with us already in this world, and as ambassadors for Christ, we have a responsibility to be peace makers right here.
Now, I’m going to sound for a moment like I’m shifting gears or going down a rabbit trail, but hear me out. Do you know what a pilgrimage is? Catholics have the Vatican for a head temple and many Catholics would love to visit it. They would see it as a spiritual journey to visit what they see as the headquarters of the visible Church. Mecca is the same for the Muslims. And in ancient Israel, it was Jerusalem for the Jews. In almost every religion there is a central place, most often seen as the origin of the faith, where one can go to get close to God and feel at peace in his presence.
But modern Protestants, cherish the personal relationship with God and the idea that we worship in spirit and in truth, not in any particular place. Jesus taught us that. And that’s a good thing! But, lacking that desire to get to the head temple is what makes it hard for us to relate to the psalmist who said, “Come let us go up to the house of the Lord.” For us that equates to just getting excited to be in church, if even that ever happens. But for the ancients, that was an invitation to travel, maybe for days, or weeks, months, from wherever they were living in Israel to get to that one special place where God said he would meet them. That was a major undertaking, if you take that callig seriously!
To you and me it might feel strange to travel to somewhere faraway to worship God. However, one day the Lord's temple will be established at the highest of the mountains. That’s in Isa. 2:2. The head temple will come as the Lord returns. It's so alluring that all nations will be drawn to it. God's law and word brings peace to the whole world. That’s the ultimate peace we have been talking about today.
As we patiently wait for this impeccable temple, don’t you think God would be pleased and the world in which we live would be blessed if our local church would have a similar attraction and influence for peace— that this would be a place where people gather in God's name, love one another, and where the law of love brings reconciliation to the whole city as we reach out in a ministry that blesses our town. On Christmas day, as reported in Luke 2:13-14, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
I am happy to be the Lord’s partner in spreading this good news according to the great commission to go and make disciples! And yes, this is GOOD NEWS! God has done his best to give us a great reason for living! Peace with God is possible for us because of his Grace, mercy and forgiveness, through the love poured out from the heavenly throne room! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Then out of a heart filled with the Holy Spirit and with gratitude, become a disciple. Learn how to serve the Lord of life and you will be blessed! Don't settle for nominal Christianity, go after a phenomenal relationship with the risen Lord, Jesus Christ!
Christianity isn't religious allegiance or church attendance, but God's fire actually burning in a transformed human heart. So, then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt.’ They will also no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.” But they will say, “As surely as the Lord lives, who was dead, but is arisen to eternal life and glory, who brought up out of all the earth his children from every tribe and tongue, from all the darkness and captivity of sin, to glory and peace with God.” Let us PRAY.
Jeremiah 23: 5-8
Listen link: www.lecpc.org then look for “sermons” tab
How would you like to live in a country where you don’t get to vote for anything, not your leaders, not the laws, and not your taxes? How would like to live in a country where you are legally obligated to do whatever the King asks of you, when he asks it, regardless of what you thought you wanted to do? That may not sound very appealing to an American. We love our freedom and independence. We fought a revolutionary war to win our freedom and get out from under the rule of a monarchy. We like democracy and have no desire to give it up, right?
If you’re feeling that, how do you react to this news: “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” When that happens, will you accept it? Can you be prepared for that by this thought: the only reason we don’t like a monarchy of absolute power is because every human king who ever tried it failed to do a great job of it in one way or another. Even in the Revolutionary War, it wasn’t really monarchy we rebelled against. It was tyranny! The proof of that is found in the fact that once The United States won its independence, a lot of people wanted to make George Washington their King!
George Washington wisely refused to let them. He was aware of the dangers of putting too much power in the hands of one frail human being. But when Jesus comes again, he will be the perfect King, not a frail human being, but God in the flesh, who does live forever, and who will reign with perfect law and justice. Jesus is LORD and king! That means he is in charge! He is the ruler of all and that includes me and you. Our American culture, fiercely independent, doesn't know much about Lordship anymore. We are the free people, able to govern ourselves. This nation was founded upon getting out from under the thumb of a worldly King. We barely have any respect for authority at all, anymore. Just look at the culture around us and it’s obvious.
So, we probably have a hard time thinking of what it means that Jesus is Lord. We prefer the Love version of Jesus, the one who sets us free with Truth and gracious forgiveness. I love that spiritual freedom too! But I am also happy to acknowledge that I owe my highest allegiance and obedience to My LORD. Therefore, I wish to use my freedom in Christ to honor and serve Him. The one who saved me from the death and condemnation I deserved, by dying for me on the cross so I can live forever, deserves nothing less than all I can give him. It all comes from him anyway.
And since I completely trust in his great wisdom and good will, I know that his plan is best. I know I will be most blessed if I obey him. So, it is no hardship at all! In fact it is my great joy to be totally devoted to the God of the Universe who just happens to also be totally devoted to me and my well-being, and you and your well-being (Not your idea of it, His true knowledge of it), because He is totally devoted to the redemption and restoration of the whole world to become a place of peace and joy and He wants all of us to be part of that. That will become our reality in the near future. Christians like to say, "Soon, and very soon!" Don't be left out!
Imagine, no more politics! No more election campaigning. That’s a big relief all by itself. But also, no more mudslinging. No more scandals. No more unfair taxes. And that’s just state side. How do you feel about no more trade wars? No more economic downturns or recessions, no more wars of any kind, and no more illness, hunger or poverty anywhere. Perfect administration of all things necessary will also mean no more wasted resources, no more bureaucratic deficiencies or incompetence. So, everything will run smoothly, right down to no more potholes!
One day, when Jesu comes again. That’s the way it will be. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
And Isaiah 9:7 says, “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
But until that day, so what? We’re living in the here and now, with the world the way it is. Can that hope of peace in the future have any impact on how I live today? Yes. It is supposed to make all the difference in the world! We do not live as those who have no hope. And we have the peace of Christ in our hearts now. As Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” We carry that peace around with us already in this world, and as ambassadors for Christ, we have a responsibility to be peace makers right here.
Now, I’m going to sound for a moment like I’m shifting gears or going down a rabbit trail, but hear me out. Do you know what a pilgrimage is? Catholics have the Vatican for a head temple and many Catholics would love to visit it. They would see it as a spiritual journey to visit what they see as the headquarters of the visible Church. Mecca is the same for the Muslims. And in ancient Israel, it was Jerusalem for the Jews. In almost every religion there is a central place, most often seen as the origin of the faith, where one can go to get close to God and feel at peace in his presence.
But modern Protestants, cherish the personal relationship with God and the idea that we worship in spirit and in truth, not in any particular place. Jesus taught us that. And that’s a good thing! But, lacking that desire to get to the head temple is what makes it hard for us to relate to the psalmist who said, “Come let us go up to the house of the Lord.” For us that equates to just getting excited to be in church, if even that ever happens. But for the ancients, that was an invitation to travel, maybe for days, or weeks, months, from wherever they were living in Israel to get to that one special place where God said he would meet them. That was a major undertaking, if you take that callig seriously!
To you and me it might feel strange to travel to somewhere faraway to worship God. However, one day the Lord's temple will be established at the highest of the mountains. That’s in Isa. 2:2. The head temple will come as the Lord returns. It's so alluring that all nations will be drawn to it. God's law and word brings peace to the whole world. That’s the ultimate peace we have been talking about today.
As we patiently wait for this impeccable temple, don’t you think God would be pleased and the world in which we live would be blessed if our local church would have a similar attraction and influence for peace— that this would be a place where people gather in God's name, love one another, and where the law of love brings reconciliation to the whole city as we reach out in a ministry that blesses our town. On Christmas day, as reported in Luke 2:13-14, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
I am happy to be the Lord’s partner in spreading this good news according to the great commission to go and make disciples! And yes, this is GOOD NEWS! God has done his best to give us a great reason for living! Peace with God is possible for us because of his Grace, mercy and forgiveness, through the love poured out from the heavenly throne room! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Then out of a heart filled with the Holy Spirit and with gratitude, become a disciple. Learn how to serve the Lord of life and you will be blessed! Don't settle for nominal Christianity, go after a phenomenal relationship with the risen Lord, Jesus Christ!
Christianity isn't religious allegiance or church attendance, but God's fire actually burning in a transformed human heart. So, then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt.’ They will also no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.” But they will say, “As surely as the Lord lives, who was dead, but is arisen to eternal life and glory, who brought up out of all the earth his children from every tribe and tongue, from all the darkness and captivity of sin, to glory and peace with God.” Let us PRAY.
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