May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. — Matthew 6:10 (NLT); “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”— John 6: 38 (NIV)
The Garden of Eden, as the representation and type of the Kingdom of God, is basically the central place of God’s presence in our lives today. Jesus said, “…The kingdom of God has come near to you.” Luke 10:9 (ESV)
However, man’s sin in the Garden of Eden was fundamentally an act of Kingdom rebellion. This makes the rest of the Bible a story and plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. This is a unique plan of God to restore and establish His perfect Kingdom fully.
The implication of man’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden reflects what we witness and experience in our world today. The kingdom of this world, as opposed to the Kingdom of God, usurps God’s power and authority in whichever way possible.
Just as Adam and Eve chose to define good and evil for themselves, we live in a time where many people, including world governments, define what good and evil are for themselves. Unfortunately, some of these definitions are completely contrary to God’s original and perfect Kingdom plan.
What used to be seen as morally bad, evil, and unacceptable is now defined as good, credible, acceptable and in line with modern times and beliefs. This deliberate disregard for God’s original plan for humanity adds to the already chaotic and broken world we live in.
The Kingdom of God is not a distant, futuristic place believers aspire to be one day, but an active and present reality. That said, the scriptures also make it clear that the Kingdom of God will one day be fully and physically realised when Jesus returns. “Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.’” Luke 22:17-18 (NLT)
Jesus was telling His disciples that this would be their last meal together. However, He anticipates that the next physical meal He will eat will come when the longed-for Kingdom of the reign of God finally comes, sometimes in the future.
So, whenever we pray, “Your kingdom come…”, we are effectively praying for the restoration and the perfect establishment of God’s rule and reign on earth. It is a prayer of submission, asking God to remove all acts of rebellion, selfishness, and disloyalty in our personal lives. It is also a prayer of submission to His Lordship as we desire for His will to be fully accepted and obeyed.
Happy New Year!
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 