Twentieth
Sunday after Trinity
The
Collect.
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O
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ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we
beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in
body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
"….He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and
they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."
(Revelation 17:14)
In
so many ways and terms are the attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ
revealed as Sovereign, King, and Lord. The parameters of His Lordship are
clearly described within the Gospels, Epistles, and every other portion of Holy
Writ. All who fail to grasp the full Countenance of Christ in all His Glory and
Truth are blinded by the World and its Prince of Darkness.
A
King is possessed of an Empire with borders, citizens, laws, and a system of
justice. Being King of Kings, all of the kingdoms of the world are placed into
His hands to govern with a rod of iron. To those citizens whose allegiance is
spurious, His rule will be as a rod of chastisement and correction; but to
those whose loyalties are stayed upon the Sun of Righteousness, that Rod of
Iron will be as a scepter of comfort and security. His Kingdom will incorporate
many lands, tribes, peoples and tongues – but the minds of all shall be One
with Christ.
What
are the borders of this Kingdom? The borders of the Kingdom of Heaven are
established by the Grant and Ancient Landmark of Grace. Wherever His Grace is
granted, there are His borders. Such grace is granted out of a humble plea for
mercy from a heart that is child-like in its nature. Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become
as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 18:3) Little children have rightful parents. The Christian must have a
rightful parent in God. The child is like, in character and appearance, the
Parent. So is the Christian Child endowed with the character and likeness of
His Father, God. The Kingdoms of the World, having been surrendered to the King
of Kings, are at peace except in those regions which are in active rebellion.
The greater part of the world, though subject to the King of Kings, is in
rebellion to its properly constituted Sovereign. The Great King sends His
emissaries, or ministers, on missions to negotiate peace with these rebels of
the world; but He negotiates out of strength only, and will accept no terms of
peace apart from unconditional surrender.
Kings are descendents of royal bloodlines. Christ is the descendent of the King
of Heaven. He derives His power, not from His subjects, but from His Father in
Heaven. All kings are given crowns to symbolize their power. Christ earned His
MANY crowns by His purchase at Calvary.
As
was the case with the Kings of Persia, the command and edit of the King, once
uttered, could not be nullified – even by the King himself. Christ speaks only
truth, and truth cannot be nullified. His Law is Truth and is Immutable! The
lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a
moment. (Proverbs 12:19)
The
King is due reverence and praise. Every citizen of the kingdom must bear true
faith and allegiance to the sovereign power. So must every citizen of the
Kingdom of Heaven bow down in reverence and swear allegiance to the King of
Kings. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow
to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11) Moreover
every citizen of a state must give account of himself before the law of conduct
and tax. So it is true in the Kingdom of Heaven: So then every one
of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)
A
good king of this world will visit the remote provinces to ensure their peace
and prosperity. Christ has done so, and continues to visit – not only every
province but every citizen – to discover their well-being and joy. He has
neither left nor forsaken you and me today, this morning, this hour, or this
very minute.
Every kingdom has a book of codified laws. So does the King of King issue His
Code of Laws in the Ten Commandments and the greater Law of Love upon which
those Ten are suspended. Rather than being written on tables of stone, those
laws of love are written on the hearts of His subjects. And adjudicated by the
Advocate at Law who died for those subjects.
Kings are anointed to their station. So was Christ the Anointed of God the
Father from time immemorial to come to a world that was in a state of
belligerence and war with Heaven for the purpose of suffering the indignation
and death of an Innocent Lamb without blemish to free those very men who
crucified Him of their bondage in sin.
Reader, are you within the borders of that Grace granted by God to all who
place their trust in Him? Have you confessed your full allegiance and fealty to
that Sovereign who died for you? Have you bowed the knee often in reverence for
His Grace, Mercy, and Kingship? Have you become a naturalized citizen of heaven
and renounced your former citizenship in the world? Does your conduct stand as
evidence of that citizenship?
