… all things have been created through him and for him.
Summary: If Jesus is our king, why does it take so long for him to be recognized as king? The Bible answers this question with the story of King David.
From the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus heralded the coming “kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 4:17). Exactly what that means has been a bit of a mystery since then. We do know a few things about this kingdom. The most significant fact is that Jesus is king (Revelation 19:16).
Paul tells us that “all things have been created through him and for him.” The inference is that everything is part of Jesus’ kingdom, but that is not the same thing. The difference between the kingdom of heaven and life in this world is that in heaven, Jesus’ authority is not questioned.
There is a story in the Old Testament that illustrates this.
In the days of the judges, Israel had no king. Eventually, after living in Canaan as a free people for about three hundred years, the people decided that they wanted a king (1 Samuel 8). God appointed a man named Saul to be king, but the power and authority of the kingship went to his head. A new king had to be appointed, one who would be faithful to follow God’s lead. Eventually, David was chosen to be king.
To my simple way of thinking, if God said David was king, that should be the end of it. David should be king. Now. But that is not how the story goes. Instead, after David is anointed king by Samuel, there is a long time before he is recognized by the people of Israel as their king (Read 1 Samuel 16-31 for a full account of this time).
During the years when Saul was still the “official” king, David waited patiently, either serving Saul or escaping his jealous wrath. All the while, David’s kingdom was being formed. Certain things had to happen in their own time, so David waited. While he waited in exile, people came to him and honored him as their leader. In effect, they treated him as their king.
Their numbers grew, and eventually David was crowned king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4). After seven and a half years, David was finally crowned king over all Israel. His kingdom was now established.
Like David, Jesus has been anointed King of kings. He is the rightful ruler of all things. Like David, his kingdom has not yet matured. Until we as a people acknowledge Jesus as King, his kingdom on earth will not be fully established. “All things have been created through him and for him.” How long will it be before we all acknowledge the truth of this statement?
Application: Proclaim the true King!
Food for Thought: How is it possible that creation does not recognize its king?
I think Jesus will inaugurate His Kingdom just when He wants to do so. I think He will rapture His church, we will go into the tribulation and at the end of the tribulation He will come back to rule. At least that is how I see it in Scripture. At that point everyone will acknowledge Jesus as King. But until that point, people rebel against Jesus as we like to be in control of our own lives. As Jesus said in Luke 6: 46: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
He would go on to say: “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6: 47 – 49)
Unfortunately many are building without a proper foundation. We can make a better choice. That choice acknowledges Jesus us King as opposed to trying to be king ourselves.
Thank you, Rich!
I completely agree about our need to build on a proper foundation. The Word of God is rock solid! There is no better foundation to build on.
I am shoring up my foundation
I’m “shore” that’s a good idea! 🙂
How is it possible that creation does not recognize its king?
In Mark 14, Jesus stands accused at His trial before the High Priest. “Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” Mark 14:61-62
The New Testament is full of references to the divinity of Christ. From the four Gospels through the book of Acts and the Epistles of Paul, Jesus is not only seen as the Messiah, the Christ but also equated with God Himself. The apostle Paul refers to the divinity of Christ when he calls Jesus our “great God and Savior” and even says that Jesus existed in the “form of God” prior to His incarnation.
Titus 2:13, Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus is directly referred to as the Creator Himself. John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17.
Other biblical passages teach Christ’s deity Revelation 1:7, 2:8, 1 Corinthians 10:4, 1Peter 5:4.
“Free Will.” The Lord our God has sent His Holy Spirit to convict this world of Sin, Righteousness and Judgement to come. John 16:1-15. Having received the truth from God Himself. All mankind must make their individual choice and receive the reward or consequences of their free will choice.
Thank you, Ron!
Great point about our free will. The ability to choose is closely tied to our ability to have a relationship with someone, including our Creator.
How is it possible that creation does not recognize its king?
From Genesis to Revelation you can see God’s heart, and that is to not force people to love Him. There is lots more to God than that, but you see His mercy extends until His wrath and justice cannot be withheld. Only redemption by the blood of Jesus will keep a person from the wrath and judgement deserved.
Since God does not force us to think what He thinks, we have the choice to recognize Him, choose Him, love Him, honor Him, or to do none of those. But the consequences will come in the end.
Saul was anointed king by God. Man cannot overturn God’s annointing. David waited for God’s time.
Thanks Angela!
I love how you point us to God’s heart. God overflows with love for his creation, and we see that love in our Savior, Jesus.