Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Your desire for right rule will not and can not be fulfilled by the scrawny shoulders of man.
As the aforementioned scripture states, the government will be upon the shoulders of a man; of a child that is born and of a son that has been given; and that man is JESUS. No matter your thoughts on the government of this world, there is a government that you can now enjoy and look forward to. As you know we are a now and then, here and there, already but not yet people—the people of GOD.
Your desire for right rule is and will be ultimately realized in the government of JESUS; Emmanuel – GOD with us. We can trust in HIS right rule because HE is without sin. We can trust in HIS right rule because HIS judgment is not faulty. We can trust HIS right rule because HE is not after HIS own will, but the will of the FATHER, who is holy, righteous, and good. We can trust HIS right rule because the greatest leaders serve, and HE served mankind the greatest by laying down HIS life, taking on the punishment of the guilty, though HE was innocent.
Often, we identify right rule through the lens of benefit. How will we benefit from this particular authority figure versus another authority figure? There are benefits to being on the side of the ruling authority. Tax breaks are cool, but I love the benefits of the rule of CHRIST: the HOLY SPIRIT, Eternal Life, Purified Conscience, Every Spiritual Blessing. These are just a few, but what an exceeding few.
Remember the Apostle Paul’s exhortation in 1 Timothy 2:1. He said we are to pray for all men, including authorities so that we can lead a peaceful life. Who better to govern you to a peaceful life than the Prince of Peace? Who better?
This is part of the now and then, already but not yet, here and there that I was talking about earlier. JESUS is ruling! There is a now and then component to HIS rule. JESUS told Pilate, the governor, if HIS kingdom was of this world HIS servants would fight. So, JESUS’s rule at the time is something like in the background. HIS reign is in the hearts of HIS people that is displayed among men, and yet GOD is still the ultimate authority. But there will be a time when CHRIST will return to bring about a new heaven and new earth and everyone will acknowledge HIS rule. Everyone will acknowledge the government upon HIS shoulders. Every knee will bow in heaven, and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of GOD the FATHER.
So now, in the midst of chaos, you can have peace. Now, no matter what situation is going on in your life, in the world, you can have peace. By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, those under HIS rule, you can make your requests known to GOD, and the peace of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS. That is the here, the now, and the already. No need to be anxious about who is going to win the election. No need to be anxious about North Korea testing nuclear missiles. No need to be anxious about the baby on the way. HE who rules rightly can grant you peace because HE is the prince of peace!
But, in the there, then, and not yet; in the righteous reign of the stump of Jesse you will find: Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
That’s peace!
Grace and peace brethren.
