SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, `You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ [1 Kings 9:4-5] I happen to know the end of the story for 1 and 2 Kings, and I know that it does not end well. Though here God promises to establish Israel’s throne FOREVER, Solomon and his sons do not end well, the temple is destroyed and the people exiled. God’s promise is offered to those who walk before Him in integrity of heart and uprightness. Can anyone do this? Will we ever break free from this dysfunctional world?

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. [Luke 1:32-33] Only Jesus succeeds to walk before God in integrity of heart and uprightness. He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Solomon. He is reigning FOREVER, and His kingdom will never end.

Because of Jesus, we have hope that an eternal kingdom is coming, a better world, paradise restored. This is not something we accomplish through our efforts; it is something He has accomplished through His righteous life, atoning death and curse-smashing resurrection. His kingdom is coming!

Our role is to trust in Him, and to rely on His help to walk before God integrity of heart and uprightness. Yes, we will fail, but He will not. He forgives us when we fail, and invites us to keep on trying. Each day is a new day of hope and promise, because of Jesus’ victory. By clinging to Him, His FOREVER becomes our FOREVER. His victory becomes ours.

My confidence is not in my own track record. Humanly speaking, my life is a sad story of weakness and failure. I am no different from, no better than, Solomon and his sons. If it were up to me, my kingdom would collapse too. But it is not up to me. Thank God, it is not up to me. I know the end of His story, therefore I know the end of my story. By grace, it is FOREVER!

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for making FOREVER with God possible for me. Try as I might, I can’t do it myself. Thank You for doing it for me!