A True "Magic" Kingdom

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

     and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

----- Isaiah 11:3 - 5

The Kingdom of God is here. Jesus introduced it over 2000 years ago. It will fully come, it will be fully established, when He returns. But I have to accept that the Kingdom IS here and now. As a disciple of Christ, I am a citizen of the Kingdom. And I am sensing more and more: that's not a ticket for entry into a never-ending Disney-created place of fun and magic. I received admission the moment I accepted Christ. That "ticket" was stamped for immediate entry; at that moment I walked through the turnstile.

The Kingdom of God is here and now. That means that the King reigns today.  That means that the godly King is judging in righteousness and faithfulness...not when He returns, but now. And judging in righteousness is all about making things right.

• Poverty is not right; no one deserves to live in poverty. People may be impoverished due to the circumstances of their lives. Some may judge that they get what they deserve...they haven't taken advantage of the opportunities given to them. But the godly King says the real injustice is that sin entered the world and put people in impoverished circumstances. He will make right the injustice of poverty.
• Oppression is not right; no one deserves to live only to be used by another. People may be oppressed because they cannot fight back. They have no voice, no power, no one standing alongside them. Some may judge that they've gotten what they deserve...they were ignorant or weak, so of course they were taken advantage of. But the godly King says the real injustice is that sin entered the world and put people in circumstances that allowed others to take advantage and use them. This King will make right the injustice of oppression
• Racism is not right; no human deserves to be cast aside, discarded, or discounted because of race. People may be looked down on because of the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes, or the culture in which they were raised. Some may judge that they were born to a lower status. But the godly King says that the real injustice is that sin entered the world and people feel the need to place themselves above others. The King will make right the injustice of racism.
• Prostitution, addictions, abuse, murder, cheating, stealing, adultery, abortion, war, materialism...these things are not right. And homosexuality. These things were never a part of God's creation. They entered our world through sin. They settled and eroded the care and nurture God entrusted to us. It may be judged that some of these cause no harm--they are "victimless," choices that adults of reason should be allowed to make. It may be judged that some of these are justifiable, not crimes at all. It may be judged that some are to be handled by the state, that man's governing ability can decide what is just and unjust.  But only the godly King can judge...and He has been anointed to judge in righteousness...to make things right.  Sin can be forgiven.  And in the King's order of righteousness, it is forgiven...and then forgotten. Only the godly King can rule with that kind of justice. Only a godly King can lead His people to forgive as He has forgiven them.  

This is the true "Magic" Kingdom. It is the Kingdom of God, and it is here and now. The King leads in righteousness and faithfulness...today. He leads His people...me. So I have to ask, am I waiting around for Jesus to return so that He will make things right? Or am I living as a citizen of the Kingdom here and now...today...seeking to work with Him today to make right the injustices around me? Am I simply a spectator to this business of making right? Am I watching from the sidelines, looking to Him to do it all? Or am I allowing Him--the King who leads in righteousness and faithfulness--to lead me to join Him as a player.

Lord Jesus, make me a player--a first-string player. Help me judge not with eyes nor ears, but judge through your righteousness. Lead me, my King, to the work of your kingdom. Amen.