GOD'S KINGDOM: A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE

A disclaimer: In no way do I consider myself equal to God. In no way do I consider that the following can come close to being a perfect scenario as to how God runs thing in His kingdom. However, I do believe that we are to use our minds to try and understand God. He uses allegories all the time in Scripture. Christ uses stories to explain His kingdom. All throughout history, stories, allegories, poetry, and other means of written literature have been used to help people understand or even inform them of current events. Thus, our ability to use our minds, write, and create a story to help in our understanding of God, as imperfect as it may be, can be used to open our eyes to more of the person of God. In this journey of seeking solid and complete answers to difficult questions, the following flowed from mind to pen as I read Edith Schaeffer's book Affliction. Please feel free to add thoughts on the matter. I invite the dialogue.

If I was able to set up my own kingdom, and many rebelled against my authority, there might be a battle. My enemy perhaps would try with all his power to turn people against me and all that my kingdom stood for. I could give my citizens a choice...they could choose to be subjects of the rebellion, or they could choose to be subjects of my kingdom. It would have been the leader of the rebellion that ultimately held the responsibility for bringing disruption to my kingdom. At first, the rebellious leader may have gained enough power to enslave all of the subjects belonging to my kingdom. The law stated in my kingdom said that any disobedience towards me would result in being banned from my kingdom forever. The only way to free my subjects would be to have a plan that would be strong enough to break the enslavement and provide a road back that was safe and trustworthy. I would need to bridge the gap of separation between myself and my subjects. The only way I could bridge this gap would be to step in and somehow save these people myself. No one can be good enough, or obedient enough to get back into this kingdom. Once they had disobeyed, the disobedience became part of their character. The result? They cannot save themselves or make it back into my kingdom on their own. Someone has to be good enough or perfect enough to help these lost people to be free from their enslavement to my enemy. I would have to offer up my life for everyone of my subjects. My enemy wanted to overtake my kingdom. I would offer up myself, take on all that my enemy might possibly use to torture my subjects, become chained to the same punishments. In return, the chains on each of my subjects would be broken, smashed, and they would be able to go free. My enemy may think he had won, that he had conquered my kingdom. Little would he know that I was stronger than any chain that might be put upon me. I would be strong enough to endure any punishment without breaking under it. In the end, I would actually conquer my enemy and he would realize who I truly was. I would have the chain broken, I would no longer need to submit myself to the torture, but rather I would win the battle. I would hurt my enemy, I would crush his head, I would injure him so that he no longer would have the strenth to hold people in bondage against their will.

I now could return to my kingdom. I could not pronounce the good news to all those who fell hostage to my enemy's powers. I could tell these former subjects that they now have the freedom to return to my kingdom. However, there would be a warning. I would need to let my people know that, even though I won the battle, the enemy craves revenge, using his power and strength to accomplish his mission. Anger and fury permeates his being and as a result, war will increase. The war is now not going to be just against me, but anyone who chooses to belong to my kingdom. I warn them that my enemy will try and find them; he might even try to bring death upon them, injure them, and hurt them deeply. I will not force them to return to me, I will give them a choice. Some choose to join the rebellion, many choose to live in my kingdom; for those however, who choose to join the rebellion, they will no longer be chained against their will. At any time they have the freedom to choose to live in my kingdom.

Due to the knowledge I have concerning the war that will be waged between myself and my sworn enemy, inclusive of subjects on both sides, it would seem that I might want to put a stop to all of it so that those I love would not be forced to suffer. I could completely wipe out my enemy and his army, keep the subjects I have and live with them in eternal glory. If I did that though, those whom I love, even though they have chosen to be my enemy, would never have another opportunity to return to my kingdom. They would forever be permanently separated from me. I love them; I want time to allow them to come back to me.

During this time, more life will be created. I allow this. I do not ban my people from bringing life into either my kingdom or the rebellion. I want my kingdom to grow, so I encourage life to continue. If I did not allow this, my kingdom would slowly disappear, and then who would be around to show and tell those on the enemy's side what a wonderful place my kingdom was and all the good that comes from living there? Who would tell others of the blessings I give them? Who would tell them of the happiness they receive?

Sure, I could force those who have become my enemy (ies) to return to my kingdom, but the will not want to stay. They would be angry at my forcefulness. I could put them in chains, and yes, I am strong enough to keep them there, but their desires would not be for my kingdom. My subjects all must be ready to fight for me and be prepared for war at all times. If I force people to be a part of my kingdom, they would or could be detrimental to winning the war. No, I must have subjects who have chosen to be a part of my kingdom.

The enemy also has warriors intentionally out to break down my kingdom. He knows he cannot take my kingdom from me, but he knows he can hurt the subjects in my kingdom. Just like any army, he has spies; spies that infiltrate enemy lines, eavesdrop on plans in hopes to thwart progress, steal valuables, equipment, or anything else necessary to try and win as many back. People are captured, tortured, even martyred. My subjects were warned, and I do try to help prepare them as best as I can. I have given them an instruction manual that provides all the ways in which they can win every battle. I may not always be physically present, but I assure them that anytime they call my name I will hear them and I will answer them and send help or answers. I have given them a list of equipment to wear that will protect them. I warn them that the battle might get so difficult that it brings about utter exhaustion. Doubt concerning the ability to gain victory creeps in to their minds. I warn them that temptations to jump ship will enter their minds. I understand my subjects are not as strong as I am and that I will find them in the enemy's camp more than once, but I plead with them to return back to me, and when the do, I love them and accept them with welcoming arms.

Just as my enemy may infiltrate my camps around my kingdom, I also have an army that infiltrated enemy lines, quietly seeking out those who are questioning their allegiance to the rebellion. I seek those who are doubtful, or those who have seen what my kingdom offers. I may strategically place my strongest fighters, or those whom I know have what is needed, in the enemy camps for the purpose of finding who is ready to cross over into my kingdom. When they are found, my warriors help these weakened souls to get across.

I have camps in which people can to renew their strength so they can continue to fight. I have camps in which teaching and training are given for new subjects. There are camps of encouragement, and there are those in which relationships can be built to that my army can become stronger.

Eventually I will get to the point at which no more people will be found who are in the least bit interested in joining my kingdom. I really am the only person who knows how to determine who is ready and who is not. When I find someone ready to move to my side, I use one of my subjects to help them so that I can be freed up to find the rest. You see, if I do everything on my own, as I could if I so desired, my subjects would begin to feel as if they have no contribution in my kingdom. There would be no reason to keep fighting. My subjects would get lazy and begin to just expect me to bless them for just existing in my kingdom. They need a purpose, the need work, they need things in their lives to keep them alert.

Can I prevent hardships from happening to my subjects? Sure I can! However, I allow them because if my subjects did not have hardships in their lives, they would not get to know me completely. They would just know me for the guy who just hands them the easy life. Difficulties allow my subjects to know the side of me that is comforting, faithful, gracious, forgiving, and strength in their weakness. In difficulties, my subjects find they need me; it takes longer, but in their need they allow themselves to be vulnerable to me, and then I am able to work miracles beyond their imaginations. They also find out how much they are capable of handling without breaking. The challenges in life are like building up callouses. I allow my subjects to be hurt; it builds pain tolerance; it builds strength. I do not allow any more pain or challenge than I know each subject is capable of withstanding. I may take them to the edge of their tolerance level, but I know their cut off point. This means I know everyone of my subjects individually better than they know themselves.

Another purpose for afflictions is for the purpose of those in the enemy's camp to see the difference between how my subjects respond to difficulties and hardships compared to their own comrades. My subjects may shed tears, may be lonely, and they may feel at times I am far away. But, when they know me well, they trust that I only want what is best and I am always there to help them fight. The enemies look on, maybe experience first hand, if one of my subjects is infiltrated into one of their camps, the love, support, encouragement, and strength given to help this wounded soldier. They might even see a smile on the wounded subjects face. Seeing the difference may be enough to help that enemy choose my kingdom. It may be enough to keep a fellow subject from joining the enemy's camp. It may even be used to once again open the eyes of a fellow subject, who gave into temptation, causing him to see what he is missing. I know each person so well that I know exactly what is needed in each person's life for their personal growth, the growth of my kingdom, and I know what is needed to draw others to myself.

With all of this being said and in the attempt to understand, as imperfect in my humanity as I am, a question arises here, perhaps with a different twist: Why, if I had the power to do so from the beginning, would I not crush the enemy right from the start? If I loved the two people I first created so much, why would I even allow Satan to get close to them, knowing his intention would be to hurt them? In my humanity, do I allow people, who have intentions to hurt my children get even within a 100 yards of them? The answer is no. Why? Because I love them and I want to protect them. So, it may not even be a question of why does a loving God allow (and I make the differentiation between allow and cause here) suffering and affliction, but rather, why did a loving God not protect his people from the beginning? Does this suggest a crack in God's character? Is he perhaps, not as perfect as Christians claim him to be?

These are hard questions, and they deserve careful thought and much attention. Tackling such issues is no easy task, but nothing worthwhile ever came easily. I challenge you to dialogue and arrive at some solid conclusions so that you may be ready to provide answers.