December 2 - LD 48, Day 7: Thy Kingdom Come . . . Unto Its
Perfection
by Rev. Andrew Lanning
Read: I Corinthians 15:12-28
Lord’s Day 48 concludes
by pointing our spiritual eyes of faith away from this earth to the glory of
God’s kingdom perfected in heaven. “Thy kingdom come . . . till the full
perfection of Thy kingdom take place, wherein Thou shalt be all in all.” This conclusion indicates that the
second petition does not only have to do with God’s kingdom as it appears in
this age, but as it will appear to all eternity in the new heavens and earth.
It is another way of praying, “Come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev 22:20b)
The fact that the kingdom
must reach its full perfection in the future indicates that it has not reached
its full perfection now. This is not a defect of the kingdom, nor is it due to
any weakness in God. Rather, the sovereign, almighty God of the kingdom has
decreed that His kingdom will only reach its perfection in the way of sin and
redemption. In this way, God’s glory, majesty, mercy, and justice are most
clearly shown.
When we look around today
at external things, it does not appear that the
However, in spite of
these appearances, the kingdom is being perfected. The coming of the kingdom is
not measured by external criteria. Rather, it is measured by the infinite power
of God’s grace to save His elect people and preserve them unto the end. However
small and despised that church might be in the eyes of the world, that church
is the kingdom of the King of kings and Lord of lords. That kingdom comes, just
as surely as Christ promised, “Behold, I come quickly” (Rev 22:7a).
The day is coming when
that kingdom shall reach its full perfection in the new heavens and new earth
at the return of Jesus Christ. On that day, God will be all in all. All of our
thoughts, which so often wander away from God now, will be focused on Him
forever. All of our actions, which so often are self-serving now, will be to
the service of His glory forever. All of history’s events, which now seem so
disconnected and aimless, will then be seen to have served the coming of his
kingdom. What a day! What a kingdom! Lord, hasten thy return!
Thy Kingdom Come! Amen.