By Jim Mettenbrink
In our review of the erosion, yea the destruction, of the biblical foundation of our nation, we acknowledge that our society has become unstable, beginning with the family structure. King David, the Psalmist queried, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps 11:3). The quick answer is rebuild the foundation as it was. And implicitly, the righteous folks have the heart to rise to do it. David continued, “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven” (11:4). Another Psalmist revealed more about God’s throne – “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Ps 89:114). In order to be in harmony with God and thereby have His blessing, it is logical, we too would want to mold ourselves to His standard of righteousness and justice. That begins with each of us. Our history reveals that cultural stability of the nation resulted from being in conformance to God’s order.
In past articles, we also considered Jesus, the historical proof of His existence, and the validity of His deity according to the laws of evidence as recorded in the New Testament. Jesus promised to establish His kingdom and to give His apostle Peter the keys to that kingdom. We concluded last week asking How does a person become a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom and when did Peter open the kingdom and to whom? Thus we continue in this series, “The Radical Entrance to Jesus’ Kingdom.” And it is radical, unlike any other institution that has ever existed. The entirety from start to finish is radical. That comports with God’s declaration through His prophet Isaiah – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Is 55:8). That contrast between our ways and God’s began visibly with the opening of the kingdom to man kind.
On Pentecost, the annual Jewish Feast, the Holy Spirit came visibly upon the apostles 10 days after the self proclaimed king disappeared (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-3). Then they all spoke in foreign languages that they did not know (2:4-12). Yup, that’s pretty radical. What did the apostles say about the kingdom?