By Samuel M. Frost, Th.M.
You can’t read the Hebrew Bible and not see that it devotes a great deal of time to Kings, Leaders, Foreign Emperors, Pharaohs and the like. There is a great deal of understanding that Adam and Eve were King and Queen of their Garden-Temple, to keep evil and deception in check and under dominion. Yes, God placed evil in their Garden in two ways: through an animal he made (Genesis 3.1), and through a Tree he made (2.9). “And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” God made every tree.
God also has full knowledge of good and evil (3.22). Every man and woman made in God’s image was given – is given – the task of Dominion. Leadership. Authority. The man who drives the school bus, and the waiter that serves food. The check out person at the hardware store, and the plumber. The accountant, the teacher, and the President, Emir, Prime Minister and Senators. External positions and material things separate them from us “regular” folk. They have more ways of expressing dominion, and more cash. However, this does not at all diminish the fact that you, who wakes up at 5:30 in the morning to go work wherever you do, have a task to do for the kingdom of God.
Let the language that God reveals to us in written texts sink in: “we are ambassadors for Christ.” “He has made us a nation, kingdom, priests.” “You are a royal priesthood.” “And they will reign with him”. “And you shall sit on thrones”. “I will give you the Crown of Life.” “Great is your Reward.” “I will make nations bow down at your feet.” “Don’t you know we will judge angels?”
Pretty powerful stuff, wouldn’t you say? And to who was this written? You, “if you abide in Christ.” You, the electrician, the maintenance person, the cop, the lawyer, the salon person, shop keeper, the greeter at Wal-Mart and the janitor at school. Do you have a say in what Leaders, Presidents, Kings and Senators do? Review that list of descriptions about who God says you are again, and ask that question again. Who was John, the one who baptizes, out in the Jordan region? Was he important? Was he decorated in purple and blue? Did he have great wealth? “What did you go out to see?” Jesus asked. “A voice crying out in the Wilderness.” Well, what’s your Wilderness? Where’s your voice? Has it been silenced? By who?
The Lord be with you.
Vigilate et Orate 