“. . . and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s” (Obadiah 1:21).
In the prophecy of Obadiah, we find an assurance to God’s people of his triumphant justice working on their behalf. The prophet ends this short pronouncement with the hopeful promise and divine confirmation that, “. . . the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.”
In reality the world has been, is now and always will be God’s. It is true that evil exists here and at times it may seem that the planet has indeed been entirely taken over by agents of sin, corruption, disease, death and suffering. But often appearances are misleading and in this issue – that is the case. The world is in fact still firmly in the grasps of its Creator, Sustainer and Redeeming King!
But how can I say this when we all know the reality of present pain, injustice, immorality and wickedness?
First, I can say it because God is, in fact, the Creator of this world and of all that we can see and can’t see. The first verse of the Bible is one of it’s clearest, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Despite the naysayers of this present age, everything in nature shouts of a divine and loving Architect/Builder who has brought into existence an endlessly complex world, full of astounding beauty, majesty and wonder.
Secondly, the very Word of God makes plain that this world has not been either abandoned nor taken completely over by an alien force. Just a quick glance at the Psalms reveals the confident and certain words of the writer, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). “For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). And, “. . . for the world and all that is in it is mine” (Psalm 50:12b).
Thirdly, even though there is an undeniable presence of evil in this world, we are assured that at a future date known only to God, he will completely eradicate all evil. He will rule and reign over a world without devils, decay and destruction. The apostle John writes in the letter to the seven churches, “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever'” (Revelation 11:15).
Finally, just as the first book of the Bible speaks of a pristine creation, the last book speaks of a re-creation, restoration and renewal of all things. Not only will the devil and all his demons be dispatched forever, but all sources of mourning, crying, pain and death will be erased. God is quoted as saying, “Behold, I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:5).
I’ll close with a hymn entitled, “This Is My Father’s World.” After his death in 1901, Maltbie Babcock’s wife published this hymn favorite that sings of what Scripture states and also to what our souls relate –
This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world,
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world,
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world,
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heav’n be one.
God’s Best. Your Friend In Christ,
Dar
Dar's Encouraging Word 