“ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD”
“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:8-10 underlining added
What if you could have everything and everyone in the world you ever wanted? What if all you had to do was to sign on the dotted line? You could have it all. ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
When Jesus came to earth as a man, was baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon Him, and the Spirit led Him into the wilderness where He didn’t eat for 40 days and then was tempted three times by the devil, the devil offered Him “ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD.” He offered Him ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. Every time I read this passage through the years, I missed these words. ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD. Then the Spirit of God opened my eyes.
When we genuinely repent of our sins, truly believe in Christ as Lord and become committed followers, turning our hearts and lives to God and His ways, we are forgiven, born again spiritually with a clean slate, adopted into God’s family, and gain citizenship into the KINGDOM OF GOD and enter into a forever relationship with God. We need to turn away from the KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD and its ways and act as citizens of the KINGDOM OF GOD according to His ways. As citizens of GOD’S KINGDOM and heaven, we become pilgrims on earth passing through as He prepares us for eternity with Him and uses us to help build His Kingdom in which He will reign forever. The devil wants to lure us OUT of GOD’s KINGDOM back into the KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD. He tempts us with everything and everyone OF THE WORLD to bait and hook us away from God and His Kingdom principles. The devil’s stipulation? “IF THOU WILT FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME.”
True believers in God are willing to forsake the KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD to live for the Lord our King; study the Bible and live by it; and fall down and worship God. Jesus said NO to the devil in the power of God’s Spirit and with God’s Word. We need to do the same! Are you willing to forsake the KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD to fall down before, and to love, worship, and serve the Lord forever? There is NOTHING the KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD offer that can compare with the LOVE, mercy, majesty, and magnificence of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, in all his Splendor, who will sit upon His throne forever!