The truth that we are kings and queens in Christ is not some idea conjured up to boost our self-esteem but a present reality that we will enjoy in its fullness at the resurrection of the dead. At that point, we will sit on thrones alongside our Savior and enjoy by grace what is His by right. Until then, we are to reign over our sinful passions, bringing our minds, wills, and affections into submission to Jesus by the power of the Spirit through His Word.
~ from Ligonier Ministries
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in 1 Timothy 6
Oh beloved, it is true. We are both much less, and much more than we think we are. For there are two truths in the good news that change everything. We are, both, if we are willing to accept the truth, the scum of the earth and the royalty of the coming Kingdom.
We hear the voices in our head:
I didn’t deserve to be treated this way!
I will do whatever I want!
I am important!
I am better than others!
I deserve to be respected!
I decide what is right!
I want it. I will have it!
And on….
This is the voice that proves our brokenness and affinity for sin and self. It is the voice that tells us, if we have ears to hear, that we really are scum. There is no way around it. We really would rather that somebody else die than for us to give in to anything, or to give anything away.
And this voice, we can come to understand for what it is. We are nearly comfortable with our fallenness and scumminess. It keeps us close to the earth, and lets us grovel. It plays into our fallen nature and its overtly religious tendencies to think that G_d is like us. That is, if we behave a certain way then G_d will like us. Or, if we are “bad,” then we can expect for G_d to be mad at us and to push us further into the dirt.
Oh yes, sin is a terrible thing. There are few things worse in the universe. Death, sins payment, for one. And pride, the progenitor of sin, for another. Sin is horrible. And this is why G_d died for it. Jesus Christ died for all sin. It was such an enormous problem, that only an infinitely large payment could cancel out its effect on mankind.
But beloved, pay the price He did.
And this takes us to the next truth, though it is very hard to hear within our souls and spirits. Our brain and flesh is making so much noise with its prideful and rebellious and religious drumbeating that we can miss it if we are not careful.
This voice is still and small. It is Him – and it is the voice of a believer’s inner man.
You are deeply Loved.
You are wanted.
You are free.
You are nothing apart from Me.
You are everything in Me.
You are my beloved son (daughter) in whom I AM well pleased.
You are delightful.
You are seated with Me in heavenly places already.
You will reign with me in the coming Kingdom.
Can we see it? This voice is the real voice. And it is the one we must listen to, if we are ever to escape our attachment to our selfish and prideful ways. We are held in the heart of a Friend, and this makes us part of a royal family. The KING of kings and LORD of lords has co-regents. And these are not some other cosmic beings. These kings and lords are us.
So, the question before us is twofold. 1) Which voice are we listening to? 2) If we are listening to the right voice; this Voice that speaks to our true and eternal identity in Himself – are we humble enough to accept who we really are?
What if we did listen and accept our coronation? Might this fool of a writer be so bold as to suggest that all the other things that are drawing us away from our desire to be good, or to live in victory, or to actually make a difference in the world, would come true.
Tonight is your night beloved. Time to believe in your position as a believer in The KING of kings and LORD of lords.
