Kingdom Time is Now

Luke 3:1-2 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar –  when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene – 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah in the desert.
 
AS Luke’s history gives us a sure time to mark Jesus’ birth using Rome’s rulers at the time (Luke 2:1), he also gives a sure time reference to John’s ministry. Amid the historic facts, we must focus on the history-changing fact: the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. The LORD God, the Almighty One of Absolute Control, has moved events and people to this moment. As the Olympic Games approach, you could use the metaphor that John is the athlete a coach trains for years to perform at his peak at just the right time. The LORD God had prepared Judea’s rulers, John and Jesus for this time. All are about to enter center stage to live God’s eternal Kingdom plan of God’s story for the Jews and then the Gentiles. In effect, God told John, “Now is your time to do your good Kingdom work.” The Kingdom of God is a planned kingdom in substance, form and time. The prophets had prepared the Jews for John. John will now prepare the Jews for Jesus.
   How about you? It is an inescapable truth to know that when you say, “I’m a Christian.” the LORD God has acted from eternity past to call you to this historic confession at this point in his story. Kingdom life is living in a purposeful eternal moment. You are not an accident, conceived and born by chance. You didn’t wander into the Kingdom of God to say, “I’m here. Aren’t you glad?” Instead, you are chosen to a grand purpose. God’s revealing Word, a true preaching church and encouraging friends are your training tools. The LORD God instructs you to prepare yourself for the moment he says, “Now.”