This past Monday, we got to celebrate a very special birthday. There was a special meal - barbecue! We didn’t eat cake because not everyone likes cake, but we had pie. And we watched a little baseball. For those people who don’t particularly like baseball, our fun activity was shooting off fireworks!
Yes. You’re right. We celebrated the Fourth of July, Independence Day, our nation’s birthday. We sang songs like “My Country Tis of Thee,” “God of our Fathers,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Since it’s a national holiday, there were people all over the place celebrating, going to Fourth of July parades and softball games. Most people didn’t have to work. Sigh! It’s a fun day to celebrate right in the middle of summer.
Except. . .
as the song goes, “This world is not my home. I’m just a-passin’ through.” Hebrews 11 says that we are strangers and exiles (vs 13) on this earth. Like Abraham, we have our eyes on “the city that has foundations, designer and builder is God” (vs 10). We are eagerly anticipating the establishment of God’s kingdom on this earth - the time when every knee will bow - every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. It’s the time when the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ! We are eagerly anticipating that time!! Why? Because then everything will be right. There will be no more crying or tears or pain or sorrow (Revelation 21:3-4). Sin will be dealt with. There will no longer be an injustice. Jesus Christ will be on the throne and things will be right!
So, yes. We look forward to the time when Jesus will set up His kingdom on this earth. The start of His kingdom . . . you could call it, I suppose, the birthday of God’s kingdom on this earth. When will that be? You could make a good case for Jesus’ return to this earth on the Feast of Trumpets, but no one knows for sure, exactly when Jesus Christ will return (Matthew 24:36). But I can tell you this: there will be a celebration unlike anything you’ve ever seen. There will be food and singing and dancing and maybe even some fireworks.
The celebration of the birthday of God’s kingdom on this earth will be so much greater and wonderful than our Independence Day celebrations. It’ll kind of be like the difference between a little party popper (Fourth of July celebrations) and huge, loud artillery shells (God’s kingdom celebrations).
I hope you had a great Fourth of July. I hope you were safe and had a lot of fun. But keep in mind that we have a bigger, better, more wonderful celebration coming. And I hope it’s coming soon!