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Day 52: Thy Kingdom Come: Numbers 8-9 and Acts 28
Thy Kingdom Come
Today’s readings are Number 8-9 and Acts 28. We are reading through the New Living Translation.
he is under house arrest. But the Message cannot be arrested. No. The message of the Kingdom of God, will never be arrested. It will move forward, beyond all kingdoms that come and go. It will arrive in people’s lives, even today, for the first time.
The Bible doesn’t tell us how Paul died, but numerous historical evidences seem to indicate that Paul was beheaded in Rome by the emperor Nero. Even though he was killed in such a cruel and brutal fashion, his message lives on, beyond Nero, or any other tyrant. His message even reaches us today and we hear from him now.
The message he preached was about the Kingdom of God. We’re told about it twice in this chapter. This Kingdom was evidenced and heralded by Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, as promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the Scriptures. Jesus is the heir to David’s throne, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, of all the kingdoms of the world. Through Him all the nations of the world find salvation and hope.
We end the book of Acts with Paul proclaiming this King and His Kingdom. And he’s doing it right in the heart of the most powerful kingdom that the world had ever known. Luke wants us to see the rise of this one Kingdom, and the tiny, seemingly insignificant, messenger of this Kingdom, right smack dab in the middle of this powerful Roman empire. God’s kingdom is on the rise. The kingdoms of this world might look like they still have all the power, glory and majesty, but they are on the wane. God’s kingdom is on the rise and it doesn’t come the way other kingdoms come or rule the way other kingdoms rule.
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. (Zech 4:6)
One person at a time, people are hearing the message of the New King and His Kingdom. He is offering freedom, hope and forgiveness, for all who trust Him. He is granting new Life, by coming to reinhabit his people. He promises this new life, regardless of our past or our current circumstances. He has come to us in Christ. It’s a message of life, forgiveness, and Christ in you. It’s the message that has long-survived the Roman kingdom and it will outlive all the kingdoms of this world.
The message of Acts 28 has moved on but the story continues. The book ends but the story doesn’t. We are into the next chapter right now, we are currently living in Acts 29. The rest has yet to be written. But it looks something like what is pictured in Rev 11:15.
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
That my friend, will be the conclusion of Acts 29. When that happens, we will see the reality of the vision John saw in Revelation 21:1-7.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
That is the end of the story. It doesn’t end with Paul losing his life at the hands of Nero. No. It ends when our King comes and sets up his kingdom here, on earth, as it is in heaven. And that day is coming soon. May it be so!
Live as a citizen of His kingdom and follow this King. May you know and love him, and make him known.
You are loved!
