253. Translated into His Kingdom
Colossians 1:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
The promise that we are translated into the kingdom of the Son of God is in the past tense. God has translated us into the kingdom and that is where we are. We need this promise because we don’t see it or feel it. We are in the kingdom. The kingdom is invisible and it is within you, and it no less real than the visible kingdom of the created world that we see. In fact, it is more real, if possible, because it is eternal. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word and promise will never pass away.
We have moved from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of God. We haven’t actually left the kingdom of the world, which is the kingdom of the power of darkness under the rule of the prince of the power of the air; butwe are delivered from the power of that kingdom. Sin, Satan, and Death no longer hold us in their power; we are free. We do not have to do what they say; we do not have to believe their lies; we do not have to continue groping in darkness, deceit, and ignorance.
It’s true that we still live in two kingdoms, but our allegiance is to the King of the Kingdom of Light and Truth. In that kingdom Christ delivers us from evil, defeats death, continually forgives sin, and grants new life daily and richly. We know this to be true and real every time we hear the Gospel; our life is renewed and our faith is strengthened whenever we repent and believe.
As long as we live Satan will try to recapture us and pull us back into darkness and conform us to the world. But we confess our sins, believe the Gospel, pray the truths of the Lord’s Prayer, and, according to Christ’s promise, He keeps us securely in His kingdom.
We know where we are; we know whose we are; we know what we believe; we know how to live; we know the security and comfort of the Kingdom of the Son. No one can snatch us away, for the Shepherd is guarding and providing. Thank God for His Promise of translation: we have been transferred.