Not Of This World


Just some thoughts and observations this week.


I saw somewhere this week the famous quote by Edmund Burke. Do you remember it?

Burke, Edmund (1729-1797), was an English orator, author and leader in Great Britain during the time of the Revolutionary War.

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

That struck me as I read all the different posts on Facebook this week. I signed one of those internet petitions about a year ago and re-signed a similar petition some months after the first. Well, needless to say I have been and still am being blitzed with all sorts of petitions and calls to action from every conceivable political corner. To be honest, I don't mind all the requests. I read some of them but delete most of them without reading them. But, it is the sheer volume of different issues, some with which I agree and some that I don't that staggers me. Of course many have to do with the current "hot" issues, others with the demise of our country with each side blaming the other. Politics, economy, constitution ..you get my drift don't you? Who the "good" men of Burke's quotation are depend on which side of the political aisle one chooses to sit. But, there is a common thread that runs through all the mail. They all want to establish their particular position as the one that will chart the course for the future. They all want CHANGE. Everything from the Tea Party to Greenpeace look to establish their cause, their' kingdom', if you will, in our land. War being waged over the issues of men.


The Lord Jesus saw it a little differently.


36 Jesus answered, " My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."
John 18:36 (NASB)


Not of this world, not of this realm. That word realm is kind of interesting. A realm is a "domain of activity", a place where everything is happening.
You see all these causes, all the threats,accusations, and innuendo from the mouths of men are just that. They are all smoke and mirrors. The REAL war is being waged in a different realm. It's an unseen realm of the spirit. It is where the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ are fighting. THAT'S where all the activity is. THAT is where the bullets are FOR REAL. Looking for change? Look no further. That realm is where change is affected.


12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Eph 6:11-12 (NASB)


That verse is almost surreal isn't it. All this activity and warfare going on in the heavenlies. We can't see it but it's there. At any rate, I once had it explained to me in this fashion, " Christianity is not a head problem, it's a heart problem." The issues that challenge us not only as a nation but as individuals are issues of the heart, not of the intellect. It's not a matter of knowing how to change, it is a matter of wanting to change. You know Jesus rejected the offer to make Him a conquering king.


15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.
John 6:15 (NASB)


He would later offer Himself as Israel's Servant King but they rejected Him. They had seen all the miracles. His teaching was of a nature that they had never before heard. He taught with authority. Even with all that He did to prove He was the Messiah, they rejected Him. It was a matter of the heart, not the head. Same O', Same O' today isn't it? We still don't get it.(smile)


Folks, causes and activism are well and good and serve a purpose. If for nothing else, they make us without an excuse. They serve to warn us of danger. BUT, if we want to effect REAL CHANGE in our nation, in OURSELVES..that is accomplished in that other realm. Getting alone with God Almighty and letting Him change us one heart at a time.That is the only solution. Jesus' Kingdom IS coming to this earth, in HIS good time. The Lord Jesus will establish His righteousness with or without this world's approval. Cause or no cause. Conservative or liberal..makes no difference. Have no doubt about it. He's coming.


1 The Lord says to my Lord: " Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." 2 The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, " Rule in the midst of Your enemies."
Psalms 110:1-2 (NASB)


God Bless