That is My King
That's My King
Matthew 24:29-31
"And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory."
As we enter a new year, we are again confronted with the dreaded "election year." Every four years, as our country goes through the process of selecting a new president, we are inundated with advertisements, speeches, and political pundits who all proclaim that their candidate is the answer to all the woes of the country and the other candidate is the death-knell of our society. This election will mark the 16th presidential election in my lifetime. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that no matter who is elected, they will not provide the answers to the problems confronting our society. While it is essential that we exercise our right and responsibility to vote, we also need to recognize that no human leader will be able to solve the core problems of our society, for the problems we face are spiritual, not political. Therefore, we need to seek spiritual answers to spiritual problems.
Yesterday, we examined the events that will transpire towards the end of the age. While the details of the events may be debated, the certainty of divine judgment is undebatable. However, the hope of humanity is not found in the events of the last days. It is located in what happens after the events. After intense judgment, Christ will return to establish his kingdom. Christ speaks of this even in Matthew 25:29-31. After the turmoil, he will appear in all his glory. This is the 2nd advent of Christ. He came as a humble servant born in a manger in the first advent. However, in the 2nd advent, he will return as a triumphant king with glory and power. For those who have rejected Christ, it will be a time of mourning as they recognize their impending judgment (vs. 30). For those who have opposed Christ and rejected his salvation, the arrival of the king will bring terror and grief (see also Dan. 7:13-14 and Revelation 20).
However, the king's arrival will bring hope and salvation for those who have followed Christ. This event is described in greater detail in Revelation 19:11-19, in which Christ will come with all the saints throughout history to establish his kingdom on earth. In contrast to the first appearance of Christ, in which we see Christ in his suffering and humiliation on the cross, in his second appearance, he comes as a victorious king. We read in Revelation 19:16 that on his robe and his thigh is written a name, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." All those who have been redeemed and previously gone to heaven will be with him.
They will join the people still alive on earth and celebrate the king's arrival. No longer will sin reign on the planet. No longer will we have leaders who cannot provide answers. Instead, he will come and bring peace and righteousness to the earth. During his reign, there will no longer be injustice and destruction.
In this passage, we discover the hope of humanity. Our hope is not in leaders who continually fail to live up to their promises because of corruption and sin. No longer will we be given promises by candidates that they cannot fulfill. Christ will come and establish a kingdom of righteousness over all the world. He is the hope and answer for humanity; he is the only one who can genuinely provide spiritual solutions for spiritual problems. The crisis we see in our world today is not political. It is not an economic crisis. It is a spiritual crisis in which sin wreaks havoc upon our society. Today people clamour for righteousness and justice, yet they have a corrupted view of what it means. Their answer for justice is more injustice. They condemn hate by promoting more hatred. But when Christ reigns, he will defeat sin and destroy its corruptive influence. He will reign in righteousness and justice. That is why only he is the one worthy to be called "My King."
Matthew 24:29-31
"And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory."
As we enter a new year, we are again confronted with the dreaded "election year." Every four years, as our country goes through the process of selecting a new president, we are inundated with advertisements, speeches, and political pundits who all proclaim that their candidate is the answer to all the woes of the country and the other candidate is the death-knell of our society. This election will mark the 16th presidential election in my lifetime. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that no matter who is elected, they will not provide the answers to the problems confronting our society. While it is essential that we exercise our right and responsibility to vote, we also need to recognize that no human leader will be able to solve the core problems of our society, for the problems we face are spiritual, not political. Therefore, we need to seek spiritual answers to spiritual problems.
Yesterday, we examined the events that will transpire towards the end of the age. While the details of the events may be debated, the certainty of divine judgment is undebatable. However, the hope of humanity is not found in the events of the last days. It is located in what happens after the events. After intense judgment, Christ will return to establish his kingdom. Christ speaks of this even in Matthew 25:29-31. After the turmoil, he will appear in all his glory. This is the 2nd advent of Christ. He came as a humble servant born in a manger in the first advent. However, in the 2nd advent, he will return as a triumphant king with glory and power. For those who have rejected Christ, it will be a time of mourning as they recognize their impending judgment (vs. 30). For those who have opposed Christ and rejected his salvation, the arrival of the king will bring terror and grief (see also Dan. 7:13-14 and Revelation 20).
However, the king's arrival will bring hope and salvation for those who have followed Christ. This event is described in greater detail in Revelation 19:11-19, in which Christ will come with all the saints throughout history to establish his kingdom on earth. In contrast to the first appearance of Christ, in which we see Christ in his suffering and humiliation on the cross, in his second appearance, he comes as a victorious king. We read in Revelation 19:16 that on his robe and his thigh is written a name, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." All those who have been redeemed and previously gone to heaven will be with him.
They will join the people still alive on earth and celebrate the king's arrival. No longer will sin reign on the planet. No longer will we have leaders who cannot provide answers. Instead, he will come and bring peace and righteousness to the earth. During his reign, there will no longer be injustice and destruction.
In this passage, we discover the hope of humanity. Our hope is not in leaders who continually fail to live up to their promises because of corruption and sin. No longer will we be given promises by candidates that they cannot fulfill. Christ will come and establish a kingdom of righteousness over all the world. He is the hope and answer for humanity; he is the only one who can genuinely provide spiritual solutions for spiritual problems. The crisis we see in our world today is not political. It is not an economic crisis. It is a spiritual crisis in which sin wreaks havoc upon our society. Today people clamour for righteousness and justice, yet they have a corrupted view of what it means. Their answer for justice is more injustice. They condemn hate by promoting more hatred. But when Christ reigns, he will defeat sin and destroy its corruptive influence. He will reign in righteousness and justice. That is why only he is the one worthy to be called "My King."
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2024
January
The Coming JudgmentThat is My KingThe Certainty of Christ's WordsThe Uncertain CertaintyThe Importance of Spiritual PreparednessThe Danger of Spiritual ComplacencyChrist's Measure of SuccessThe Unpopular TopicRejection, Confusion, Betrayal, and WorshipBetrayal and RedemptionThe Inexplicable Act of LoveBetrayal, Bravado, and FearBetrayal, Bravado, and FearThe Unlikely Witnesses of Jesus' DietyRemorse, Repentance and ForgivenessThe Power of the Crowd and the Power of FaithThe Irony of the CrucifixionThe Cost of SinThe Cure for SinThe Reality of the ResurrectionLiving a Life of SignificanceThe Attitude of a SlaveThe Basis for Confident LivingThe Basis for Confident Living
February
The Prayer God AnswersWhen Adversity Becomes a TriumphFinding Joy in the Ministry of OthersPursuing the InsignificantPerspective in SufferingThe Sacrifice of SelfIf God can do it, then why can't we.The "Kenosis" of Christ"THE NAME"Divine Initiative and Human ResponsibilityThe Age of ComplaintReorienting our Focus Pt 1
March
Reorienting Our Focus Pt 2The Basis of SalvationDetermining ValueSetting the Right Goal in LifeFollowing the Right PeopleRecognizing our CitizenshipResponding to ConflictThe Keys to PeaceLearning to Think RightlyThe Secret of ContentmentThe Blessing of GivingA Life without SignificanceThe Futility of LifeThe Endless PursuitThe Futility of PleasureThe Limits of WisdomEvaluating Our WorkFinding Joy in LifeThe Doctrine of Right Time
April
May
Finding BalanceThe Folly of AllObeying Those in LeadershipWhen Injustice ReignsKeeping Perspective in an Upredictable WorldFinding Success in the World of VanityThe Value of Wisdom in the Struggles of LifeThe Danger of Foolish ThinkingTrusting in God's Unseen HandEnjoy the MomentAct before it is too late.The Geneology of Christ: A Testimony of God’s Grace and SovereigntyChrist the KingThe Authority of Christ
June
The Compassion of ChristThe God who cares for us.The Power of JesusThe ServantChrist the JudgeThe Compassion of ChristScandalous GraceThe Power of Christ Over DeathWho Is Jesus?The Majestic KingThe TIming of GodThe Value of NothingThe Basis for Security in LifeThe Joy of The FatherThe Grace of JesusThe Divine WordThe Greatest Prayer
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