He reigns

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while might know that I love the morning. Usually, it's the time of day when I'm productive and energetic, but sometimes it is the time when I am just quiet before the Lord, reading his word, watching his Creation wake up. This is one of those mornings. In an hour, I'll be sitting in my algebra class, working beastly problems I'd rather not think about. But for right now, in this moment, I want to tell you about something I've learned about the mornings:

The sun rises twice.

No, not literally, but it sure looks like it to my imaginative eyes. If you live any place moderately sunny, and get up early, you'll probably understand this phenomenon. See, the sun begins to get close to the horizon. When it does, it's not yet up, but it hits the air in such a way that oranges, purples, and deep reds begin to fill the sky. It's glorious! But then, something unexpected happens. Although a dull yellow or orange remains in the sky, the light that was just there is gone. Gone. For people who aren't expecting or accustomed to this, it'll seem weird, and most likely they'll go on about their business. For someone who knows what's coming, however, it's the time to get your camera ready. As the sun is rising, there are a few brief moments where it is hidden behind that  very horizon off which it was sending its rays. Then, in a flash of blinding light, you finally see it. Not just the colors you saw from it before (although those often reappear magically, as well), but you see the sun. It's brighter than all the other colors, and in many ways more beautiful. The great thing is that the sun is up to stay for the whole day. It's really very special when you think about it.

Incredible as that is, there's a similar phenomenon that is even greater, and that's what I want to spend this post talking about. There is another great light that rises twice. This one is actually also known as the Son. He was the son of a king. This king ruled over everything for all eternity, which for a while meant that he ruled over himself, and his son, and his spirit, which were (and are still) united as one. But the king decided that it would please him to create day and night. Then, he separated his home from the expanse, and thus created heaven and earth. On earth he made seas, and he made land. Soon, the king made great lights, terrestrial bodies, in the universe he had placed this earth in. The earth was empty, however, so the king added land animals, fish, birds...and then he created something very special: man.

Well, a whole bunch of things happened, and I'll sum it up by saying that this king created a helper for the man, and she was called woman; they were given one rule not to break (on punishment of death), and you guessed it...they broke it. But this king was the wisest, best, most kind, and still the most just king you could ever imagine. You might think of him like King Arthur on a huger, more perfect scale. Only better. So, in all his goodness, this king decided he wouldn't kill the two right away. But he still had to be just, so he threw them out of the little paradise he had made for them, with the promise that someday someone would save their broken world.

Years passed, then decades, centuries, millenia...and a whole lot of things happened. Through that time, some followed the king. Some payed homage to fraudulent "kings," and some denied any king whatsoever. Then it happened. The hero came, and the world was good...sort of. The hero, the king's son, died to pay the punishment for the disobedience run rampant in the world. He payed the punishment, rose from the dead, saved the world...and then left. A bit like Thor at the end of the Avengers, except this guy didn't shake Loki's hand. And, as it turned out, life seemed to get worse.

But this prince promised he would come back! And you and I are left in the darkness between the two risings of the Son.

What are we to do? If he's supposed to come back, shouldn't he kinda hurry up? This world has gotten pretty bad, in case you haven't noticed. There are earthquakes, wars, disease...when is this guy coming back? Well, you know the answer. He's coming when people of every nation have begun to pay homage to him, when certain prophecies are fulfilled...and we won't ever have any idea when that is.

It sounds a bit morbid, doesn't it? Yes, to tell the truth, it does. That's why I'm writing today: to remind you all (and really, myself) that it isn't quite as bad as it sounds. In fact, it's glorious.

Do you remember reading those stories about King Arthur and the Round Table? How he sent knights on quests? When they came back, the world was still a mess. But they had done their part to heal brokenness, and for that they were rewarded. We too, friends, will be rewarded! We are promised eternity with the Lord, simply for trusting in him. The lion will lie down with lamb, there will be peace, and Jesus will reign forever. How much better can you get?

A lot better. Or at least, you can understand it even deeper. Think for a moment about the reign of Christ. It will be eternal. It will be glorious. It will be a constant fellowship with our Lord, and with one another. Every knee in that kingdom will bow out of love for and admiration of and dedication to this king. Justice will be there, but it will not be painful as it is in this world, because there will be no sin. Joy will be perfect. We can share our memories of how the Lord has worked in this world, and glory in what he is doing there.

Maybe you're like me, and you long for Narnia, or really Aslan's country, to be real. Here's something to lift your spirits today: Aslan's country is real. We are not yet in it. No one is. But on the last day, we will be taken to it, the saints will rise, we will be made fully alive in Christ, and we will be taken to the new earth -- Aslan's country. You and I will look into the sun without being blinded. We will sing and dance with the angels, and with people of every tribe and nation. Jordan's banks won't be stormy, and you won't have to cast a wishful eye, because you will be there.

If all that isn't worth living for, dying for even, then I don't know what is. Money doesn't satisfy. Power will never gratify. Approval leaves you hungry. But knowing you have riches in heaven, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the approval of the God of Heaven who reigns over everything and is coming back, is more satisfying than anything you've ever dreamed. We may live in the darkness now, but we are the light of the world.

And the Son is rising again.

He reigns.

Meridian