The Kingdom of God Everywhere

Post 5:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created ….

Today we meditate on the fact that when God created, He created not just a universe, but a universe that is His Kingdom. The story of creation is the story of the establishment of God’s Kingdom, even though the word itself is not used in Gen. 1.

The fact that God created the universe makes Him the owner of it all. This is a strong emphasis throughout the Old Testament. The Psalmist wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the water” (Psalm 24:1-2). We find the same truth expressed time and again: “Let all the earth fear the Lord…, for He spoke, and it came to be…” (Ps. 33:8-9). Ps. 89 tells us, “The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.” “His kingdom,” we are told in Ps. 103, “rules over all.”

This relationship is confirmed in the New Testament (NT) by the Apostle Paul in Acts 17:24. God is Lord because He made the earth. That is the reason or basis, Paul told the Athenians. The NT says many more things about the Kingdom, but it is all an expansion and a further enrichment of the OT teaching of the Kingdom.

So, today, wherever you go, remember you are in His Kingdom. Today, whatever you touch, be aware you are touching part of His Kingdom and should treat it accordingly.

The creation basis of the Kingdom of God has deep and profound meaning. Among other things, it means that there is no place, no thing, no animal, no person who is not part of the Kingdom, who is outside of it. The verses above, along with Ps. 24:1-2, Ps. 33:8-9, and many other passages, show this clearly. Even people who either do not know God or who reject Him are still part of that Kingdom, whether they like it or not, whether they know it or not. “For dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations,” says Psalm 22:28. It should be understood that this claim does not necessarily mean that everyone is “saved.” For that, more is required.

The creation basis of the Kingdom, and I want to emphasize this, means also that the Kingdom does not consist exclusively of people. It includes ALL of creation—animals, water, land, rocks, and so on. This Kingdom is as wide as reality itself.

The Biblical teaching of the Kingdom is very comforting. Wherever you go, He rules. Even if you go into the territory of your enemies, God’s power is there to protect you. For Nigerians and people in many other countries, it means you no longer tremble when you enter the office of an oppressive government official. Even that official is in some way ruled by God and will be used by Him. If you go in unbelief, you will naturally be afraid. But when you go in faith, hope and courage drive away your fear. Your God, your King is there even before you arrive….

In the Western world, we do not usually tremble when we enter a government office, but you may well tremble if you enter a university classroom and you want to say your piece. You will soon feel the extreme secular bias of the place with its stonewalling. But that, too, is part of the Kingdom in spite of all the haughty denials. Challenge Him by challenging them!