The victory is won! Now what? Why are we still here? Why are we still suffering? Why are we still wrestling with pain? Given all
that has been accomplished, are we left to wonder or will someone step up and lead us towards everlasting life? It’s not unusual for
decorated military personnel to move into positions of leadership and honor. Their sacrifice and courage on the battlefield are memorialized as worthy of honor, and loyalty. Their victories bring the promise of protection and provision, under the guise of positions
like King. A king is a ruler over a specific territory based on birthright. Jesus’ pure birth qualifies him as the heir to God’s throne and expansive territory. However, his Lordship speaks of how he rules. Absent his declaration of love and loyalty, Jesus’ victory over the
grave would have been treacherous for us. His lordship speaks of His relationship with his subjects. A Lord yields power, authority and influence, but the response of their subjects determine the success of their reign. Like other Kings, all of Jesus’ Kingdom is subject to his authority. Unlike others, Jesus desires to live amidst His subjects. Our world has never known a king like this. Seeing that His kingdom incorporates both heaven and earth, Jesus aims to rule in a way that unites the two. He cares about the happenings of his Kingdom. Unlike most kings, he desires to accompany His subjects on the journey called life. A king in our midst generally evokes love or fear. But Jesus wants both. Jesus deserves both. Jesus will require both. He wants to be loved and feared as the one who offers forgiveness of sin, the one who cancels Hell’s lien on our souls. His desire to be feared is not accompanied by threat of harm, but the need to be rightfully revered and respected. His desire to be loved is fulfilled only out of our free will. So, to love him is to revere him and to revere him is to love him. The pure at heart worship Him for both, for it is in the heart of man where He lives. He now takes up occupancy within us, assuring us that eternity with God is our future. The prince of this world is overthrown and God’s Kingdom is established on earth. His kingdom expands it’s earthly boarders in the hearts of humanity. For all who believe in Him, love Him, revere Him, and dare to be subject to Him, he is King of Kings, the God of heaven and earth. It’s tempting to believe our troubles are over, when a new King takes the thrown. Jesus takes the throne at the right hand of God the Father, subsequent to His victory over the evil one. However, the camera is still rolling. The sequel has begun. The war over our souls has already been won, but there are still battles to be fought. So we hold the sorrow and joy of this life, as we look forward to the next. Tension between the sorrow of this broken world and the promise of heaven is the reality of this final chapter, until Jesus returns, to unite our world with God’s forever. The Imago Dei is restored and His image is imprinted on us like a royal seal making us fit for worship and marking us for eternal life. When He returns, the war between our flesh and His spirit will be won, for those who believe. Unto us is given the gift of eternal life.