As we read the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus, one point that always comes through clearly is everyone expected Jesus to establish a political reign that would re-establish Israel as the world's premier power.  That is again the case as we turn to Isaiah 9:6-7 this week.  Here's the a key statement from that prophecy about Jesus' political role:  The government will rest on his shoulders. Which government?  When?  These questions would have been answered by Israelites in various ways, but most of them would surely have thought OUR government, WHEN HE COMES!

Wouldn't that be your expectation if you lived in a land under the domination of another world power and you read the statement? We tend to read the Bible in light of our own situations.  When we read words that promise God will give us the desires of our hearts, we tend to think that means God will give us whatever the desires of our heart are at this moment.  When we read words that promise Jesus came to give us life in all its abundance, we tend to think that means abundance as we define it.  The truth is the words of promise we receive from the Bible ALWAYS mean what God intends, not what we intend, and that can be difficult to discern.

In the case of the statement, the government will rest on his shoulders, the meaning must be discerned from the reality that Jesus did NOT establish a political government in His first coming, AND since He promised to come again, He must be establishing that government when He returns!  This has to be the case since God's word is always true.  Jesus told us when He returns He will be the judge of all the earth.  That certainly means the government will rest on His shoulders!  Evil will be defeated and Jesus will establish a new heaven and a new earth--a new world order in the ultimate sense of that word. 

When will this happen?  That's the million dollar question isn't it?  When will Jesus return?  When will He establish His eternal reign? People have been asking and answering that question for the past 2,000 years, and those who have offered specific dates and times have looked like fools­--because they were (and are!). Jesus told His followers that NO ONE knows the day or the hour, not even Him.  Only God the Father knows the exact moment.  That makes our task simple:  BE READY! Most of us look forward to the reign of Jesus, but are we ready for it?  Do we give Him control of our lives now?  Are we living as citizens of heaven today?  Take a moment right now and consider those questions.  The best way to be ready for Jesus' return and establishment of His eternal reign is to cede control of our lives moment by moment--right now!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for the promise of the day when the government will rest on Jesus' shoulders!  Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may live with Him in control of our lives NOW.  This we pray in His holy name.  Amen. HHHiasdf