Ever-Increasing Glory

Psalm 2

The Hebrew praise team leader did not shrink from writing songs for worship that used very human language for the Lord. Check out verse 4, with the one enthroned in heaven laughing and scoffing. Pretty human language. What is he laughing and scoffing at? The objects of derision are human powers who think they can challenge his authority. The backdrop is the thing that happened in those days when a big ruler died. The people of the subjugated states under his rule saw it as an opportunity to rise up. The first thing the new ruler had to do was to put down the uprisings, and it was rarely a positive experience.

The psalmist dreams of a day when a king of David’s line would have the kind of rule in the earth that would put down all opposition, not for his own sake, but as the one through whom the Lord reigned on earth. Well, that never happened. Or did it?

A song quoted in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians celebrates Jesus as the one to whom every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:9-11). It’s hard to see the reign of Christ in the outward world today, when Iran thumbs its nose at the world, a nightmare is unfolding in Myanmar, and [fill in any world tragedy here].

I’ve reflected before in these posts that I believe there is Scriptural warrant for earthly authorities to fend of the effects of evil, so there is certainly a need for police and military that is legitimately based and has peace as its goal. The reality is, however, war in its various and increasingly insidious forms is likely to increase as the world as we know it moves toward its divinely appointed end. What goes on with the Christian’s life in the face of this? I believe the focus of our hope and activity comes in this:

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

What can and needs to be also evident in the world is the increasing strength of our relationship in and with Jesus Christ. As the world goes its way, the Christ’s church will be ever stronger – and indeed the church in the world is exploding, as are local churches that truly are resolved to go where the Lord is leading. Of course we should pray earnestly for specific world situations and do whatever, individually and collectively, we can to alleviate suffering and promote peace. But our first response as Christians is to grow in our relationship with Christ, and with one another in Him. As the world goes its way, our worship together should be growing in fervour and excellence, our groups should be growing in their atmosphere of mutual caring, in ever-deepening knowledge of the Lord, and in opportunities for service and evangelism.

We are far from helpless. The kingdoms may rage and rulers plot in their vanity, but we have a purpose and destiny that leads us to grow in strength, peace and even joy.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you said that as the Father sent you, you send your followers, whom you even called your friends, because you have shared your plans with us. Let us not take that lightly. Amen.