For such a time as this

Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

I know that this will not be a popular post with some in the church, but it is not as much an opinion as something that I believe is necessary for us to consider in these times. Romans 13:1-8 says:  Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For  rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.   Keep in mind that Paul wrote this when he himself was subject to one of the most oppresive governments in history; the same government and authority by the way that Jesus Himself submitted to, even unto death. Keep in mind that Jesus also said: “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,  and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,  and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:10-19)  We need to consider whether if we are called before governors and kings, we will defend ourselves and protest for our rights, or will we take the opportunity to testify of the One who is righteous?

Certainly I am not suggesting that we should blindly follow everything that the government of the world says or determines. We should not follow and accept the things that are an abomination to God; things like abortion and rampant immorality, but we need to take care that we are led by the Holy Spirit and not by our own opinions and offenses. Jesus never confronted what offended Himself, but rather what offended God. When He cleansed the temple it was because it offended God. In Luke 12:8-12 Jesus says:  “I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;  but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.  And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.  When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”   Now more than ever, if we are truly a people who have been called and raised up for such a time as this, we need to have, to hold and to yield to the Holy Spirit. Like Jesus Himself, we need to say only what the Father is saying and do only what the Father is doing. Like Jesus, we need to say: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”  Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?