THY KINGDOM COME

Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed by Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  (Matthew 6:9b-10 NAS)

I have prayed this prayer hundreds, if not thousands of times, maybe you have too, without giving a lot of thought as to just how God will answer it.  Certainly there is a sense in which it needs to be fulfilled in me – God’s will being done in my life.  If I am a follower of Jesus, then He is my King, and I am in His kingdom.  God, help me to be obedient in all aspects of my life.  Establish Your kingdom in me.  In a broader sense I pray for Him to reign over my marriage and over the families of all my children and grandchildren. 

There is also a sense in which this prayer should be fulfilled in our churches.  If Jesus is truly the Head of our churches, then His will is being done in and through us as individuals and as a community.  We will be a kingdom community, representing Jesus to the world.  People will see in our communities the love, the unity, the healing, the health, and the life of Jesus. 

As I have recently meditated on Revelation chapters four and five. It’s the longer term piece of “Thy kingdom come” that has come into clearer focus.  Chapter four is a beautiful picture of heaven as John saw it in his Revelation vision.  He sees the Father, the One, sitting on His throne surrounded by a rainbow before a sea of glass.  Angels and majestic creatures hard to describe sing His praises, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, Who was and who is and who is to come.” (Revelation 4:8b NAS)  In this place of beauty, majesty, peace, and glory God’s will is done – before One so great how could it be otherwise?  When we pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” (Matthew 6:10) we are asking God to bring the earth into this same beauty, peace, and Godly order.  Given the turmoil, injustice, war, and death we see all round us, is that possible?  How could it be accomplished?

John’s vision gives us the answer.  Revelation chapter five pictures the Father on His throne with a scroll in His hand, which is sealed with seven seals.  Ancient wills, contracts, and other legal documents would be written on parchment and then sealed like this.  No one was found worthy to take the scroll and open its seals until the Lion of the tribe of Jacob (Jesus) steps forward.  When He takes the scroll John then sees Him as a Lamb, but a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes, which could indicate that He carries absolute power, authority, and knowledge.  All heaven breaks forth in worship to the Father and the Lamb.  Jesus has conquered death and hell and sin, redeeming a people for God from every tribe, tongue, and nation.  His victory proves His worth.  He then opens the seals one by one, and things start to happen on earth.  Over the next sixteen chapters of Revelation God’s judgement is poured out on all unrighteousness; people, nations and kings are judged; God’s redeemed people are gathered to Him; and a new heaven and earth appear with their crown jewel, the New Jerusalem, where the Father and the Son will dwell with God’s people forever.  All tears will be wiped away, the tree of life will be in full bloom, and the river of life will run free through the city.

Wow!  That will be “Thy kingdom come".   God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven, because heaven has now come to earth.  Those of us who follow Jesus, who trust in His saving grace, have all this to look forward to.  What a hope!  What a future!  I for one am going to ratchet up my prayers for the kingdom to come.