Thy Kingdom Come

Recently, I came across a little booklet in my library entitled Thy Kingdom Come by the late Ern Baxter (pictured as a young man at right). Essentially, the booklet is a transcript of a message Ern preached at the Kansas City Shepherds Conference back in 1975 before 4,500 Christian leaders. Ern's challenge was to "describe the larger perspective of what God is doing" - a perspective "inaugurated by God and intended by Him to be carried on until the entire universe acknowledges that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." Needless to say, I was deeply stirred by this message and was reminded again about all that God is working to accomplish in His people. I want to provide a quote for you from Chapter One where Ern gives us an inspiring description (as only Ern could do) of God's greatness:

"There has never been a time when God was not in total charge. The Bible tries to tell us in simple language of the ultimacy of God. There is none before Him. There is none beside Him. He takes orders from none. He was created by none. He is life, self-existent. There is nothing in Him that should be out of Him. Nothing out of Him that should be in Him. He remembers nothing because He has forgotten nothing. He learns nothing because there is nothing He does not know. He does not need to recall because He holds all truth simultaneously. He is the God of the eternal now. He can look at human history from the beginning or the end or the middle, for all things are known to Him."

What a description! No wonder we can say that all authority belongs to the Lord, for He holds all things in His hand. Truly, Ern's description helps to expand our thinking to see God as more than what we can possibly imagine. He is God! He is eternal! And He is in charge! Therefore, there is absolutely nothing - and I mean nothing - that can happen to me or you that He does not already know of and approve for our well-being. How we need a fresh revelation today of the awesomeness of our God. In the face of nations that struggle, in the light of environmental issues, and problems glore in so many parts of the earth, God is still the One who is seated on His throne - and in total control. Thank God! And thank God for His coming kingdom!