Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Revelation 11:15-19

Key Verse: ¹⁵ … there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

‘The kingdom of the world has become
    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
    and he will reign for ever and ever.’

The day is set. On earth, it inches one day closer with every sunset. In the heavenlies, it is so certain that it is already celebrated as an established reality. A moment in time approaches when the kingdom of this world, the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom where sin and brokenness rule, will be overtaken by the Kingdom of the Lord God Almighty … for ever and ever. Where the power of temptation, sin and death now rules, the Anointed Saviour King Jesus will rule … for ever and ever.

In 2024, the Kingdom of God is present on the earth in the lives of those who have willingly surrendered to and are living faithfully under the Lordship of Jesus. It is present in the marriages of couples who have willingly surrendered their relationship to and are living faithfully under the Lordship of Jesus. It is present in friendship circles or communities or groups or Churches that have willingly surrendered their relationships to and are living faithfully under the Lordship of Jesus. But in 2024 the Kingdom of God is only present on the earth in these “enclaves” because of willing surrender. The influence and power of the Kingdom of darkness still remains, and the Kingdom of Light exists in the presence of the Kingdom of darkness.

But today’s reading shows us with absolute certainty that God’s Kingdom of Light will be established in all its fullness, forever! Today we are reassured that the day will dawn when only God’s Kingdom will be present because, “‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’” His Kingdom rule and reign will be complete, it will be perfect, and it will be forever!

Our calling then, in 2024, is to work to extend the territory of Christ’s Kingdom; that is, to extend Christ’s rule and reign in our own lives through deeper surrender and more complete obedience and in our sphere of influence through faithful witnessing and leading others to faith in Christ and obedience to His will.

King Jesus, I willingly surrender to Your Sovereign will for my life. I undertake to allow Your Word to shape and determine my opinions and worldview. I undertake to obey everything You command me to do, to trust the Holy Spirit to empower my Kingdom-living as He forms me into Your likeness, and to witness faithfully to others, in such a way as to lead them home to Your Kingdom too. Amen.