TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Thy Kingdom Come

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

The ladies in my church are doing a Beth Moore Bible study, "Stepping Up: A Journey Through The Psalms of Ascent," based on Psalms 120 through 134. One of the things Beth Moore has requested we students do as we make this journey, is to begin each day face down on the floor in obeisance and worship before our Lord.

We Americans are a strange group. Coming from a heritage of people who frequently fled the tyranny of kings, we Americans have never known the necessity of bowing before our presidents. In America, we are not here to serve our president; our president is here to serve us. In theory, anyway.

Yet, despite our independence, we seem to idolize royalty. We may not bow down to a ruler in America, but we have a habit of falling all over visiting royalty. Bowing down is not - um, I guess the word would be "natural" - to us.

So starting each morning face down on the floor before our Lord, our King of Kings, is both a humbling and an uplifting experience. While we are on our knees with our foreheads resting on the carpet, it's hard to get carried away with our own importance. In that position, there is only one ruler - and He is above us. In that position, empty words do not so easily trip off our tongue, and our prayers are not as shallow as they sometimes have a tendency to be (admit it).

Perhaps one of the things that most strike home to me while I bow before God is that we do belong to a kingdom, and one day our king will ride in as He promised, to conquer the forces of evil.

As Christians, we are aware of all the attempts made in our secular society - and in the world - to wipe our God out of the picture. I've heard it said that we are intolerant, that we are a detriment to society, that we are living in the dark ages and are a danger to children. I suspect these attempts to discredit us are mainly due to the fact that we actually believe in God and believe God. It seems to me that what the scoffers and scorners want, basically, is free rein to pursue their lusts and greed without being bothered by conscience. They say Christians are intolerant of their freedoms. I say we are intolerant of sin. Well, at least we should be. Our God knows where we stand when we are kneeling before Him.

Jesus gave us an example of what to pray, and it begins, "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."

As our nation and our world grow increasingly Godless, we Christians can look forward with growing anticipation to the kingdom God has promised. We know from Biblical history and our modern world history that God judges nations. As our nation grows more and more to resemble Sodom and Gomorrah, it's a safe assumption, I think, that we are growing closer and closer to judgment. But just as God was willing to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if He found 10 righteous people there, so, we can assume, He might be persuaded to spare America if He finds a comparative percentage of righteous people in America. It's my opinion that all those detractors who are trying to wipe God and Christians out of the picture don't realize we are the percentage staying God's judgment.

But while on my face before God, I still have a selfish urge to turn my back on the unrighteous I should be praying for and instead whisper - with increasing anticipation - "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Reporter and columnist Carole Dickey can be reached at (813) 948-4289 or cdickey@mediageneral.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT