Forever and Ever is Now

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!” Psalm 97:1

“The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
    He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!” Psalm 99:1

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’ And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,

“’We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
    who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
    and begun to reign.
 The nations raged,
    but your wrath came,
    and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
    and those who fear your name,
    both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.’

“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.” Revelation 11:15-19

Nations rage, factions fight, and God reigns. He has reigned from the beginning, over His plan of salvation from first to last, from the fall to Christ’s birth and death and resurrection to the here and now, and will forevermore. When we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we rejoice that He was and is and will be King yesterday, today, and forever. (Genesis 3:14-15; Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 13:8)

Our Savior has reigned from the beginning of time. He knew us before we were conceived, formed our personalities and particular gifting, and has never taken His eye off of us. So what about my past can I not accept? Where do I still chafe with what has happened, or not happened, when I know that the Lord reigns in perfect love and fulfills all His plans for me? (Genesis 1:1; Job 36:7; Psalm 139:1-6,13-15; Jeremiah 29:11; John 1:1-2)

Jesus reigns over the whole earth today, ordering times and authorities, places and nations. So in the daily mess of life, and the wreck of broken relationships and bodies and cities and governments, what is it we think His hand does not rule? We may feel out of control, yet why do we doubt His control? Do we behave as though we believe He is working all together for good for His own? (Exodus 15:18; Acts 17:26; Romans 8:28-34)

And Jesus reigns forever. Hallelujah! What fears, unknowns, and insecurities will we today tuck under the irrefutable, glorious promise that He will one day reconcile and restore all things? (Revelation 21:1-7,22-27; 22:12-13,20-21)

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room
and heav’n and nature sing…

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy…

He rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love.” ~Isaac Watts (1719)

Eternal God, may I rest and rejoice in Your forever reign today and always.