A Kingdom that Cannot Be Shaken

"At this time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:26-28)

The author of Hebrews is writing to people who were under the rule of the Roman Empire, a rule that was strong and powerful, that had been on the scene ruling for hundreds of years already. It was a rule that seemed unshakable. And yet, he is telling them that in spite of the appearance of things, everything on earth is shakeable. How would that have been heard to these original recipients of this letter? What were their thoughts as they sat under the strong and powerful rule of Rome? As they felt the hot breath of persecution for their faith breathing on their necks. As they watched as loved ones were imprisoned, publicly exposed to reproach and affliction. As perhaps even they themselves had experienced loss of personal possession and property at the hand of what appeared to be an unshakable kingdom.

And yet, go to Rome today. All that you will see remaining of that unshakable Roman empire are ruins. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. But the word of the Lord remains forever. But today, 2000 years later, God's kingdom is still here...powerful Rome has fallen, but the tiny Kingdom of God that began when Jesus arrived on the scene, remains to this day. The people of this kingdom can be found in every tribe and nation, from every people group. Recipients of the mercy of God, they have all been called out of darkness and brought into the marvelous light of their King Jesus to be a people who belong to Him. From every corner of the globe they declare His excellencies among the nations in every language. It is the people of God, the Church who remain today. And Jesus tells us that the gates of hell will not prevail against them. It is to this Kingdom that cannot be shaken that our loyalties lie. It is to this King, Jesus, that we look to save us.

As people living today in a world that is as shaky as it has ever been, we can learn from the writer of Hebrews about how to navigate in our contemporary world. All the kingdoms  of this world are crumbling, including our own. This great country of ours, only 240 years old, is a crumbling kingdom. It will not last forever. And this truth should neither surprise us as believers nor should it fill our hearts with fear. We are told in Scripture that we are strangers and aliens here. America is not our home. And America, like every other kingdom that has risen to power, will one day crumble. And God will still be on His throne. And His kingdom will remain standing.

Therefore, if we lose our place in society, we will not be shaken, because we are a part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. If we lose our place of power, we will not be afraid, because we are a part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. If we lose our religious freedoms, we will not be shaken, because we are a part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. If we are called to endure a hard struggle, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated, we will not shrink back and be destroyed, because we are a part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. If we find ourselves being plundered of our property, we will not grieve but respond in joy because we have a better possession that cannot be taken from us.

Do not be driven by fear but of a sound mind. Vote your conscience, good Christian friends, be good and faithful citizens of this country that is not your home. Seek the peace and prosperity of your city, but do not put your hope in this system. It is a system that is crumbling. Do not put your hope in an election, for those elected will not be our saviors. Put your hope in Jesus Christ for all things have been put in subjection to Him, nothing is outside His control even though at present we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him (Heb. 2:8).  Hold fast to the hope set before us who belong to the only kingdom that cannot be shaken, hold fast to the sure and steadfast anchor of your soul ~ Jesus!