King of The Universe

" Pilate said to Jesus, ' Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, 'Do you say this on your own, or have others told you about me?' Pilate answered, 'I am not a Jew, am I ? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me What have you done?' Jesus answered, 'My kingdom does not belong to this world. My attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not here.' So Pilate said to him, ' Then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.' " [John 18: 33-37].

We think that, as humans, we have grand political power over other states and nations. We delegate such extreme power to men, that we make them King. And yet, that royal power is so very fleeting.

Remember Rome? Where is that vast Roman Empire today, that extended from the East in the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey), all the way West, to Gaul ( now France). The Roman Empire fell-- to corruption, to the flames consuming the city of Rome, to murders and excessive wealth.

And where is Emperor Nero of Rome? He allegedly set fire to Rome in order to make way for an even more extravagant palace. He was also allegedly the murderer of his own mother. In the end, his power did him no good; he was assassinated.

There are other, more recent men who were would-be kings.  Adolph Hitler thought that he would conquer the world. But in the end, he was assassinated, and his regime crumbled.

Think that the egotistical desire to be King ended with World War II? Remember the recent reign of Muammar Gaddafi? This Libyan dictator wore self-styled royal caftans and head-dresses, and convinced himself that his people loved him. He died in a hail of bullets, cornered and trapped by his own people.

And so, who IS the King of the Universe? Many kings of history have been corrupt dictators. Other kings, though benevolent, have been forgotten.

Perhaps modern celebrity is the source of royalty? We have dubbed Elvis Presley the "King of Rock and Roll". There is no doubt about his talent, and his immense contribution to the music world. We idolozed him and yet--- in 1977, he died of a massive drug overdose.

We have also dubbed Michael Jackson, "The King of Pop". Again, no doubting his near genius talent. But he died of a drug overdose as well, amid allegations of past scandal.

If not celebrities, maybe economic powerhouses rule to world?  Remember Tom Wolfe's novel, "The Bonfire of the Vanities", chronicling the lives of greedy, powerful men on Wall Street in the 1990's. Wolfe ironically dubbed these investment bankers, "Masters of the Universe"? Or, remember "Barbarians At The Gate"?

Where is Lehman Brothers now? Or Bear Stearns? Bankrupt. Defunct.

And so, who is really King of the Universe? Is it the moguls who own the most waterfront real estate? We have seen, tragically, in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and again during Hurricane Sandy, that real estate does not confer dependable status. Not when a single storm can wipe away an entire downtown. Not when a single storm can require redrawing of coastline maps, because expansive swathes of coastline have simply disappeared.

I have lived an uncertain and traumatic enough life to know that we live in a fragile, temporary world.
Everything I have, everything I see, will not last forever. Companies will go bankrupt or go out of business. Storms may blow homes and entire towns away. Politicians may come to power, or may lose power. Celebrities may become less popular, may die, or may even implode in controversy or scandal.

And yet, I long for something that is constant and eternal in my life. This longing has ever been so, even in Biblical times. This longing is the desire for God, and it is part of the human condition.

This is a counter-cultural concept today, but it is God who reigns. And God made His reign manifest through His Son, Jesus, who is The King of the Universe.

" Jesus was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and  humanity of every language worship Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." [Daniel 7: 14].

In the storms of my life, I have clung to this comfort, that God and Jesus are always there and always will be. Jesus' power is everlasting, and nothing can take His reign away. I may lose my home; lack food to eat, or electricity, or water, or a warm coat; I may even lose friends, family, employment, or money.

But God and Jesus are still there! And still they reign.

For Jesus is God's Truth, who will never fade, never lose relevance, never become tarnished or corrupt, never rule by brute force, and never die.

Ultimately, it is Jesus and His Truth that reign: "For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the Truth." No other Truth in the world holds value or bears any validity.

Jesus, Lord, as I seek to belong to the Truth, may I always listen, in the stillness of my heart, to Your Voice.

[Related Posting: "Not of This World", May 21, 2012.]

(c) Spiritual Devotional 2012. All Rights Reserved.