Where God Reigns
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
Kingdom – Graeme Goldsworthy said that the idea of the Kingdom dominates the entire Bible. Nothing is more important than the reign and rule of the Lord. Life occurs only in God’s Kingdom. Those who are not citizens are doomed to death and destruction. But unless we are careful, we might miss an important element of this kingdom thinking. The Kingdom is not the same as the creation. The Kingdom is found in a special kind of relationship; one that comes about in a special way. It is not the automatic result of merely being called into existence. God’s Kingdom operates by invitation, not by compulsion.
God is sovereign over all creation. This is de jure authority, that is, authority by right of creation. It is the authority that comes by law (for example, a policeman). God rules everything by the very fact that He created everything. But this is not the same as the authority He exercises in the Kingdom. The Kingdom is ruled by de facto authority, that is, authority that comes about because the subject recognizes the duty and worth of the one who rules. De facto authority results from volunteering to put myself under someone’s reign and rule. I am invited to submit, and in the act of submitting, I grant de facto authority to the one I serve.
Jesus operates with de facto authority. He invites us to come to Him and place our lives under His control. He does not compel us (although He certainly could) because He wants us to recognize that it is in our best interest to submit to Him. He is the Ruler full of grace and mercy, able to lead us when we cannot find the way, willing to rescue us from our own myopia. Everything about Jesus gives us reason to grant Him authority over our lives. This de facto authority reflects the Father’s own heart. It is fundamental to the way real relationships work. It is to be the basis of marriage and human interactions.
So, when Jesus gives us a model prayer, it includes de facto language. God’s Kingdom comes, not by inevitable decree, but by the voluntary submission of a rebellious creation to the rightful rule of the Lord of light. God’s will is done on earth when His children place themselves under His direction and live according to His ways. And in the process, the rebellious creation is redeemed.
God operates by invitation. Is His pattern being reflected in your life? First, are you submitting to Him because you realize that He deserves your obedience? Are you following Him because you know that it is your duty to do so? Do you trust Him to bring about your best interests?
Secondly, are you employing the same pattern in your marriage? Wives, are you voluntarily giving your husbands authority because you trust that they are most interested in your well-being and they are worthy of following? Husbands, are you living up to the trust your wives place in you when they volunteer to submit? Are you as reliable as the Lord? It’s not just a matter of having a good marriage. It’s ushering in the Kingdom. It’s living the Lord’s prayer.
Topical Index: Authority
