The Return of The King
“Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!” This was the triumphant shout two Sundays ago as millions watched the greatest golfer, of my lifetime, return to his rightful throne. For many golf fans, like myself, Sunday was the long anticipated return of Tiger to stardom and oh how sweet it was to hear his roar at 18 and see one more Tigeresque fist pump as he sank a 3 foot putt. Yet, the joy was very short lived. At most, you may still be fairly excited about his victory today, and maybe very excited for his future in golf. But the “Tiger!” chants are over. We have started to move on. We wait patiently for his next victory, that we may cheer once again.
As I watched the whole world praise Tiger, I couldn’t help thinking about our true King, Jesus. As the crowds swarmed him with triumphant embrace, I couldn’t help but think about what my future holds as a follower of Jesus. The beautiful truths of Christ’s triumphant kingdom seen in Revelation have rolled through my mind ever since. I hope you can be encouraged by the triumphant kingdom in store for all of us who are followers of Christ.
The true and worthy King.
Revelation 5:5 say’s: “And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals’” Jesus is the only person who has the authority to open God’s book of life. How beautiful will it be to all swarm around the feet of Jesus at His throne as he tells of the history of the world? Oh the comfort that will come from hearing about why we lost loved ones at young ages, why grandma had cancer, why we had struggled financially, or why your parents were absent from your life. And how joyful it will be to sit and know that no one will ever be taken away again, no one will ever have cancer again, how everyone will share in Jesus’ inheritance, and how our true Father will always be there with us. It’s true, Satan has no place in this Kingdom. Revelation 20 teaches us that Jesus will have complete victory over Satan. That Satan will no longer have any authority, but will be tormented for eternity. Jesus is the true and only king of the Kingdom that is coming.
The new heaven and the new earth.
Revelation 21 teaches us how Jesus will not only defeat Satan finally and totally, but He will bring forth a new heaven and a new earth. The story of redemption will culminate with the establishment of Jesus’ real Kingdom. His Kingdom will be the perfect home for He and His people to dwell together. The whole created order will be renewed. God will walk among his people again. How amazing will this new world be one day when Christ returns? No more sin. No more death. No more mourning. No more pain. Just Christ and his Kingdom completely made new.
I cannot wait to wear my Sunday red with all of you Tiger fans and eagerly watch as he chases every record in golf. But will you join me in hopeful waiting for the coming Kingdom of Christ? Join me by relying on God’s grace that was provided by the lamb who was slain to sustain us until the end. For one day we will be adorned in our blood-washed, white robes, living with Christ our Lamb and King, singing “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And the joy of Christ’s victory can never and will never be taken away.