The Lord’s Kingdom (Obadiah 21)

 


Wednesday, September 11, 2024


Psalms 28; 29

Obadiah 15-21

1 John 5:1-12


Observance: Mother Esther CHN, founder of the Community of the Holy Name, Melbourne (d. 1931)


The Lord’s Kingdom (Obadiah 21)


If the first half of Obadiah reads like the tension of a fantasy novel, the second half reads like the “happily ever after”. The goblins, having had their fun drinking and carousing on the holy hill, will be driven out, never to be seen again. Places of beauty, profaned by wickedness, will be restored to their former glory – indeed, to a surpassing glory. People of God will stream into these places, filling them with the love of God, an eternal peace, never to be stained by the influence of evil ever again. It will be as if evil had never been.


It’s a wonderful story, don’t you think? Yet it will not come easily. The big battle that turned the tide was nothing less than the betrayal, torture and execution of the Lord Jesus. It turned the moon blood red and blotted out the light from the sun. We Christians, living in the aftermath, risk treating it lightly. But when we consider that the path to throne leads through the cross, we have to recognise the cost that will be involved.


The cost involved is made easier for us in two respects. First, we know how this story ends. We know that on the other side of the cross is the resurrection. We know that the goblins will be driven out and that the new day will dawn. The second is that we are following a glorious path. Jesus walked into the midst of battle, carried himself with sublime dignity and courage, and won for himself the crown of ultimate glory. As his people, we follow him, knowing that it will never be as bad for us as it was for him. While it certainly can get very bad, we know that troubles are a sign from God that we are to be given greater glory for having overcome them.


This work of the sword and the trowel, of building the kingdom of heaven, is not without difficulty. But we have the example of our Leader and the pattern of his victory to imitate. And we know how our story ends.


When was the last time you stopped to count the cost involved in following the way of Jesus? (Luke 14:28-33) When was the last time you stopped to appreciate the glorious end result we are working towards?


King Jesus, our shining example and noble Lord: give us the strength to build your kingdom, and always keep that glorious kingdom in our perception.

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