Living in the Kingdom Era

At the beginning of the month I finally purchased a book I had been wanting to get, 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders. I first heard of the book from my friend and was very intrigued by it. I have heard bits and pieces of certain stories of the bible, but could not tell you specifics of who did what. This has been something that Satan has held in front of me because I did not know these stories. I could not tell you specific names or places mentioned in the bible. And so I decided it was about time to get to knowing what these stories were so that I could know them and kick Satan in the butt.

The book goes through the different types of books in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and then goes on to describe the eras in each. I have gotten through the Exile Era in the Old Testament and have been really impressed with myself in how I have managed to understand and remember the material. There are great charts to help the reader memorize each of the eras, along with the main figure, location, and a short sentence that helps to summarize what happened. 

While I was at the beach I read about the Kingdom Era, which is during the books 1 Samuel through 2 Chronicles. I also read 2 Timothy in the same sitting, and boy let me tell you, they both clicked for me and correlated with one another more than I thought possible.

During the Kingdom Era, the kings of Israel were wanting total freedom, but they did not realize that there was no such thing as total freedom. "They wanted the freedom to ignore the directives God had given them on how to rule and wage war. But at the same time, they wanted the freedom to have economic and military prosperity. This was not possible." This got me to thinking that we are just like these kings of Israel because we want it all too. We want the freedom to do as we wish with our life, but we still want God to sit back there just in case something goes wrong so that He can forgive us again and we can have a moment of realization that our sins were wrong, even though we will go right back to sinning. Our lives are just like the Kingdom Era, "very turbulent" and "with many ups and downs." 

Then I got into reading 2 Timothy and was reading about how we should not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, but that we should share the power of God (2 Timothy 1:8) and that the Lord will give us understanding in everything (2 Tim. 2:7). Being reminded of these two things before I had even finished 2 Timothy had me realize that I don't have to be like the kings of Israel in the Kingdom Era. Having freedom to do the things I want because I am a sinner and disobey what The Lord has given me is no reason to go through ups and downs in life, especially without my Lord. If I had the freedom to do as I please with no consequence (sin) I would not have the chance to have the Lord help me to flee from my youthful passions (2 Tim. 2:22), my sins, so that I can live a faithful life glorifying Jesus. 

While reading 2 Timothy, Paul ripped open my heart to help me realize that this is not my life, this life I have been given is meant to glorify our Lord, Jesus Christ. I am supposed to flee my youthful passions, preach the word: be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:2), and do the work of an evangelist. He then ends his letter with this wonderful passage, "But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:17-18. By doing Gods will and sharing His love and His word to His people, He will protect me from every evil because He loves me.

Friends, I hope today that you take a minute, and remind yourselves of what we are here on this earth for, not to take part in our favorite idols, but to glorify our Lord and to bring all of his sons and daughters to Him so that we can all live eternally with Him in heaven. And just tonight in church I was reminded that we are supposed to humble ourselves just like "He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). I want to think of myself less so that I can let Jesus in more and think of others more, just like He does for us. 

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, 
a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15