"Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth." (Psalm 2:10)
This time through Psalm 2 I was greatly impacted by the address to nations, peoples (communities), kings, rulers, judges. Why has so much of Christendom over the years failed to see this? Is it that they don't want to see it? According to Matthew's account, Jesus sent us after the nations, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." Mark's account says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (NASB). According to Strong's, the Greek word translated, "creature," in the KJV means, "creation, creature, institution." Can you see that our Lord Jesus Christ is affirming, first, His Lordship over creation, second, His Lordship over the nations, third, His Lordship over humanity, fourth, His Lordship over every aspect of a given culture? Now some may say, "Wait a minute, Jesus is not Lord of everybody." Oh yes He is. They may not be "saved" and going to Heaven, but their very eternal destiny is determined by Jesus Christ, their response to Him, and His Way, His Truth, His Life, His Reign. Matthew 25 declares, "When [Jesus] comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him...." Jesus Christ is the Judge of the nations.
I found it particularly interesting that the word translated, "creature/creation," in Mark's version of "The Great Command" can also be translated in some contexts, "institution." I want to share with you the definition of, "institution," according to Dictionary.com. Are you ready for this?
"1. an organization, establishment, foundation, society, or the like, devoted to the promotion of a particular cause or program, especially one of a public, educational, or charitable character.
2. a building devoted to such work.
3. a public or private place for the care or confinement of inmates, especially mental patients or other disabled or handicapped persons.
4. a well-established and structured pattern of behavior or of relationships that is accepted as a fundament part of a culture, as marriage.
5. any established law, custom, etc."
Now, "Go into all the world," and take over all of this!
I can hear someone say, "Boy, does he need a reality check." On the contrary, I challenge you to read all of Psalm 2 without religious, Sunday School eyeglasses. You will discover that the Holy Spirit is not just speaking to individuals, but nations, people (communities), kings, rulers, judges. The persecuted Church of Europe realized that Jesus Christ is, "the governor among the nations," and they came to North America to do something: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." The phrase, "in order to form a more perfect government," my friend, is code for, "Go into all the world," and take over------everyone, everything, in every place. This is not totalitarianism. There were and are allowed many religions, political philosophies, etc., in America. But the reason the early Pilgrims came to our shores was, "For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." I hope to speak more of this Sunday, July 8, in the CCE meeting.
Father, in Jesus' Name, You are continually enlarging the stakes of my tent. Only You can enable me to walk in this. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
