In this posting, we will complete our survey of the three, essential weapons
God has given us to use to fulfill our creation mandate to rule over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28).
These weapons are, first, the Family, which SUPPLIES fresh, young, “rulers-in-training” every generation. Then there is the Church, which EQUIPS these families with the vision of both the Gospel and the Kingdom of God they will be extending, plus the skill to make that vision reality. Finally, there is the Civil Government, which PROTECTS the family and the church so they can do their jobs freely, openly and without obstruction. That final “essential weapon” is the topic of our posting today.
When the family is supplying, the church is equipping, and the civil government is protecting, and each weapon is limiting its activities to its own designated task, the Kingdom of God is attacking Satan’s Gates of Hell and cannot be stopped! The Kingdom is coming!
My evaluation of our situation today is that God’s people are still in the process of discovering their rolls in each of these three institutions. Satan has used his “religions” to sidetrack many sincere believers from our ruling task. Marxism, evolution, Islam, and an escapist theology that emphasizes the imminent return of Jesus to rescue us from today’s culture wars have all greatly affected today’s Christians.
Therefore, many of us, bemoaning today’s cultural state, have retreated to a ”cave” (with stained-glass windows!) with a “bag of groceries” (the “precious verses” we share with other parishioners!) and are waiting for Jesus to return and rescue us at the “rapture of the church!” And, of course, we are told that “All the prophetic signs say this is probably the year!!”
I believe God has got a different future for His “Little Children.” I believe He placed us here, on the earth, who are each created in His image, to rule over it at this very time, not escape it! I believe we are learning to do so—wjherever we go, with whomever we meet. We are bringing God’s love, joy, and peace, naturally, spontaneously, and unconsciously (NSU), and we don’t have a clue it is happening! His Kingdom is coming through us, right now!
Hebrews 11:1 tells us this very thing. I quoted this verse for years before I came to understand what it means. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
If this verse is true, it means that what God has promised He will do for us, He has already done! If an absolutely sovereign God (who is outside time) says He will do something, is it not true that it is already done?
This verse tells me that, yes, it is my simple FAITH OF A LITTLE CHILD that “substantiates,” or “makes real TO ME” what is already true, because my Abba Father has proclaimed it! This is the only way the heroes of the faith, listed in the rest of Hebrews 11, could do what they did. As we, today, simply trust what Daddy has told us in our hearts to be true already (because it is!), we are added to that list!
As you can see, what started as simply an “Introduction” to my Civil Government – Limited but Crucial posting got a bit lengthy as I wrote with growing enthusiasm for the topic. I quit writing and began preaching! I’ll complete the survey of a biblical civil government next week.
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