The Key to Understanding the Kingdom
While a good mystery story may keep the reader in suspense until the very last moment, a good “useful” book makes its’ theme and purpose clear very early and then repeats, and expands upon it, often. The is the most useful of books, so does it follow this pattern?
Listening to preachers you may be confused – especially if you listen to a “range” of preachers or those on radio and television. What is the key theme of the Bible? If you listen to many radio and TV preachers you would suspect it is cha-ching, money. I have heard several people incorrectly say money is the most talked about subject in the Bible – they are absolutely wrong! Just as the Bible uses “adultery” many times (as an analogy) to make spiritual points (without making the Bible a sex book), it likewise uses money (because it is something with which we are all familiar) as an analogy when the issues or topics normally have NOTHING to do with money – it is just used as an example! So strike money and finances off as a key theme of the Bible.
Well, what about those who seem to indicate the point of the Bible and Christianity is about God healing us, making us rich, doing everything He can to make us happy . . .? In short, God is our slave and servant! This approach tends to draw a crowd. But, alas, even a cursory reading of the Bible debunks this shallowness and foolishness!
OK, we are narrowing it down. Is the Bible, then, primarily a morality book of does and don’ts – what we need to do to get to heaven or not do to stay out of hell? No, this can’t be the case because, if this were so, the Bible is very inefficient – it could be summed-up (and many try to do so) in the Ten Commandments. Too much of the Bible is devoted to stories, songs, prayers, etc. to be a book focused on morality.
I like this question (What is the key theme of the Bible?) because, while it is very easy and apparently obvious in concept, yet, when we reflect on it, it points out how little we really know; similar to the simple question of what makes a person happy, something everyone should have thought about and resolved, but few have.
“I’ve got it,” some will say, “the Bible is about the love of God!” This is the approach taken by those who really like (and normally live) clichés and theoretical and superficial answers; answers which are absolutely useless to anyone trying to do or learn anything practical. There is no denying “God is love,” but this love has a backdrop and conditions in order to make it useful and valuable.
A well written non-fiction book will introduce its’ theme early, make it the focus of any subsequent “points” and end highlighting the theme – and this, if possible, with a bang. So, how does the Bible start and finish – maybe this will give us a clue?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Ge 1:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Rev 21:1-2
With the final verses of the Bible being:
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Rev 22:20-21
Do these verses give us a hint about the theme, the key, to the entire Bible? They absolutely do – drum-roll please – the Bible begins and ends as it does to show the pure and perfect sovereignty of God. The sovereignty of God (Almighty God!) is the theme of the Bible. And it shouldn’t take a brain surgeon OR rocket scientist to quickly contrast this with the utter weakness and helplessness of ALL men!
We look at the Donald Trumps of the world in awe – thinking how important they are. But they too, VERY soon, will at best find themselves “resting” in a casket or urn! No one is greater than their ultimate power and control! The Bible’s theme is the sovereignty and power of God!
Without understanding this, a person cannot hope to be a Christian – to grow in the grace of knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. And this because this key (sovereignty) is the further key to our faith – the source of our grace and salvation:
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Heb 11:5-6
Faith is exhibited by what a person says1 and what they do2 – leading to who and what they are3. A “faith” of either words1 or deeds2 that does not change a person3 is not a faith that will save a person. And this because if we REALLY believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him we will humble ourselves, by realistically looking at our short and pitiful reign of power, so that we “come under” God’s sovereignty. We will look for and to the Bible as the “Word of God” for answers to the trials we all periodically and will surely ultimately face.
We can pray, when in a jam, “Your will be done . . .” hopeful maybe God can do something. We may quote Romans 8:28 – “All things work together for good . . .” without much conviction, because what else can we do in a time of disaster?
When the devil tempts us with some piddlly “kingdom” do we fall for his cheap trick, or are we PREPARED (How? By earnestly seeking him in good times!) to answer by faith as Jesus did:
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ Lk 4:5-8
Just as thankfulness is THE barometer of our happiness, our understanding and experience with God’s sovereignty is the barometer of our faith. And this understanding grows as we study, wrestle with and apply our faith to the daily (mostly small, ordinary and mundane) challenges and issues of daily life. The Sunday-only, philosophical, theoretical, talk-is-cheap, what I say/not what I do approach . . . is a caricature of faith – not the “real thing.”
The righteous will live by his faith Hab 2:4
Seek the LORD while he may be found; Isa 55:6
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Mt 7:7
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mt 6:32
Who can expect to have faith when they really need it (for the big things) if they don’t seek (and exercise) faith on the small issues of everyday life? Don’t be deceived by the caricatures of faith all too often presented as authentic! Remember,
Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:21