A kingdom that cannot be shaken – 27 September 2022

There are very few things in life that hurt us, psychologically, as much as uncertainty. Everywhere, people are looking for certainty and stability in their relationships, jobs, financial matters and so on. Above all, we see that people are looking for certainty in their spiritual lives. Many believers find it difficult to make sense of what they hear about religious matters and the Bible these days. What has always been perceived as truth and certainty is, in our postmodern society, not always so anymore.

I am very lucky never to have experienced an earthquake. People who have been through such an experience say that the most disconcerting thing is that which is supposed to be permanent and firm as a rock, suddenly starts to heave and become completely unstable. That which you have experienced from childhood as stable suddenly leaves you in the lurch. This can often happen with people’s faith when they are confronted with new ideas about the Bible. The person who wrote the letter to the Hebrews used a metaphor that reminds us of an earthquake when he said that the voice of the Lord makes heaven and earth to tremble. This is to show that at the end of time, God will bring an end to the unstable world.

In contrast with the above, God’s kingdom can never be shaken. This stability of the kingdom is very important when we look at how we experience our faith. I hear people say that they do not attend church services very often or participate in church related matters, because they do not want to do it out of habit. However, this “habit” is often the foundation on which to build certainty and stability. To be sure that the kingdom of God cannot be shaken and to be busy serving God, our fellow believers and the church, in its broadest sense, is the recipe for happiness.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please let me experience your unshakable love for me every day. Amen