As the Prophets Fortold

In a year where politicians are being persuaded that they can live above the law by the apolitical and amoral electorate, we can well appreciate the factual separation of church and state in our American Republic. May we close this Thanksgiving season by prayfully thanking the God of heaven that unlike the randy royals in Britain, at least our political leaders have no claim nor lawful right in defending the faith once given to the saints either now or in the future.

In spite of unwarranted advice once given to the Southern Baptist Convention on matters of theology, our slickery head of state has no longer any morally authoritative position except that accorded him by the Media in matters of life and politics. Thus, there is in the American experience no possibility of any "priest-king" preaching any political salvation with one wit of authority. And if this be the essence of reasoning for separation of church and state in America so may we be blessed by the providence that has ordained and allowed it.

We here in America are allowed by political expedient to give our true allegiance to another King, a spiritual King whose Kingdom transcends time and space. A King who was - is and shall be all wrapped into One. A King who is the same "yesterday, today and forever". He is not distinctly a King of this world, but of the World to Come. Let me caution that statement by admitting that the World to Come is the true reality of eternity, while our temporal experience is transitory except for the prophetic witness to what is to come!

Yes, we are wrestling with great issues in this as well as the other sermons in this series THY KINGDOM COME! And the final reality of any prophetic perfect grammar and understanding still awaits final fulfillment and consummation. Were the Kingdom completely present we would not have been invited by our Sovereign Lord to pray that His Kingdom might come - in glory and finality at the end of this age. If this world were all there was ever to be, as some of our socialist reorganizers would like to establish it, what kind of paradise would we presently have where every commandment of our real God and King is being publicly and socially disdained? No, the present world is perishing both temporally as well as spiritually. The second we see clearly and the first will also come about in the Lord's own time. We have to look beyond the temporal order to that of the eternal if we are to be spiritually in tune with the God of Creation. To that end this morning, let us consider the teachings of the prophets who looked forward to the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And in those predictions accomplished let us realize not only the sense of the Kingdom now but also the true and final Kingdom yet to be.

My commentator Dr Herbert Lockyer says of the promises/prophecies of Scripture that "any divine prophecy is a promise that God will perform all that the prophecy presents." Who has not read a prophetic book all the way through without feeling and knowing that while a lot has come to pass within the providence of God, there is still yet to happen a final rupture of the old order so that the true eternal Kingdom may be realized . That is where we want to be when we earnestly pray "Thy Kingdom Come"! But not yet, still a little while ... in the midst of our continuing spiritual travail, this eternal refuge is the aspect of messianic prophecy which I would highlight and emphasize this morning.

My commentator observes that "outstanding among the numerous metaphors describing the provision and preservation the Lord makes possible for His own are those portraying Him as our Refuge, Tower, Pavilion, Fortress, Hiding Place and Covert."

Jeremiah 16: 19-21

"The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe."

"A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, And a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land".

"Common to all these promises is the thought that in the Lord we have an impregnable Fortress or Hiding Place, and that in Him we are safe and unassailable." In ancient Israel there were established six cities of refuge where those who fled the feuding of families and accidental manslaughter could hide from any avengers. There they could stay throughout the lifetime of the current high priest. Because our High Priest lives forever we have the assurance that ours is an eternal security. How tragically that so many who belong to the Lord become discouraged in the common events of the weekly news or get dragged down by the chores and demands of the daily grind.

Please understand, I do understand your weakness and I admitted so in a thanksgiving email. Unlike a lot of ivory tower professional clergy sheltered from reality I do know how it goes with you in the work place! I make the same mistakes day in and day out that you do. And like you I take great hope in the encouragements of scripture.

Ahhh - the sanctity of the elect, not only do we have a priestly redeemer, but a king who loves us and who guides and protects us within the administration of His perfect providence. Our Priest-King is adequate for any discomfort, a covering for any sin. Whenever we are pursued by sin, doubt, perplexity and sorrow we have in Christ an eternal rest. There are no foes or fears common to mankind that should trouble us.

"He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth ..Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him."

It is so easy to sing that "Christ shall have dominion" , then why is it so much easier to live as if He was not in fact in control. I remember Karen Black who testified that when confronted by a real life Satan worshiper - all she could threaten was "My daddy is bigger than your daddy!"

Final victory does indeed reside in the glorious Son of our Father in heaven. The final end has already been decided the only thing that remains - as some sports enthusiasts might allow - is the point spread.

During World War Two, the German generals knew the jig was up within a few weeks of the Normandy invasion. Only the desperate psychopath in Berlin failed to realize the truth of the matter. So it is with the present generation caught in the egoism and psyco-angst taught by the high priests of humanism. The worldly and all of their pet theories and projects must come to a bitter eternal end where they like Woody Allen can diagnose themselves forever in hellish abandon. At least in this life, we can get up and leave those angst ridden movies and we can ignore the psychobabble of contemporary seminars. Last week after a multi-hour marathon of such a seminar, someone asked me what could possibly be worse. After thinking a minute I observed that one could believe such nonsense and have eternity in hell to consider the personal ramifications! How much better to have been delivered from all earthly myths and nonsense to grow in grace with the promises and prophecies of Holy Scriptures.

This great prophecy has long been associated with the Advent season and to this final end we all look forward with earnest hope. And like the saints described under the altar in Revelation we may often wonder - "How Long?" O Lord, How long? The promise of that great day when His reign will finally be revealed at the end of the age is as secure as the many promises fulfilled in the birth and life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the Holy Spirit came to Mary with these words:

So may the Lord of grace speak in your heart and assure you that all of the promises of Scripture that you already believe may strengthen and encourage you in those areas covered by promises that you have trouble with day by day and even when awake in the hours of night. "Thy Kingdom Come", Let this be your prayer and until that great day may the King of glory rule over your heart and lift up your emotions as you give more and more of your life to His kind and considerate oversight and care.

Amen.

Resources Used:
     Lockyer, Herbert.         All the Promises of the Bible.

Places Preached:
     Christ Covenant REFORMED  (Presbyterian Church in America)
                               Box PO Box 13926 -- Columbus, OH  43213
                               TKC01         29 November 98