News of a Kingdom

An angel appeared to Mary, telling her of a son she would have. The Angel said, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne … he will reign over …, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32-33).  Jesus comes to reveal a throne without glitter, only the light of truth about of the only kingdom recognized by the Lord God Almighty.  His.  A kingdom that was, is, and is to come – God’s kingdom is here and now.

As Jesus spoke God’s Word and ministered on earth he declared to His disciples, followers, “I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,” (Luke 22:29-30) – God’s kingdom.  God’s kingdom is assigned to the people of God … praise God, the followers of Christ are established this very moment within the Kingdom!  This is because of “Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:1) has made believers to be citizens.  As such, to this world ambassadors of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:20).  With the inclusion of the kingdom, God gave a “charge,” or commission to “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:1-2) of God’s truth.  The Word in Spirit and Scripture – the good news, the gospel of salvation in Christ alone (John 14:6). 

Only by God’s Word, the living and active Word, can we share the truth of the kingdom’s hope.  The truth of becoming a part of the Kingdom of God, established in Christ Jesus alone Who’s Kingdom is eternal; it was for yesterday, is for today, and will be forevermore.

Enter the Kingdom,

Owen <><

Where Does Conscience Lie?

Our conscience is the one thing that seemingly wells up within us as to the goodness of our acts in life.  From the very core of our conscious we draw regret or satisfaction in response to our decisions, actions, and words in life.

 
In “Murder on the Orient Express,” a soul-searching question is asked by Detective Hercule Poirot.  After pondering the bond between bitter, vengeful souls who plotted and carried out an elaborate murder, Poirot ponders aloud, “Where does conscience lie?”  However, Jesus has the answer to Poirot’s question.  If we do evil, those things that wrench the very soul of a person, then “your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:23).  Within us is a battle, a spiritual war (Acts 6:12) that determines the perimeter in which Light can penetrate, repelling the invasion of darkness. 

The Apostle Paul responds out of his own conscience, proclaiming, “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (Acts 24:16).  How do we keep our conscience clear?  How does our conscience not have regret?  How is our conscience light filled and not in the darkness of evil?  Again, Paul taught all who follow Christ to “not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2). 

We make it difficult, yet God has given us his perfect will in an answer, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" (Eph. 3:20-21).  But, we still ask, “Where does conscience lie?”  We make it difficult, yet God has given us his perfect will in an answer, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work

Where does conscience lie?  Within us, in our very soul, within a human being created by the true and righteous God.  Our conscience responds to God’s Spirit or another spirit who battles with God. 

Living by our conscience within,

Owen <><