A Tale of Two Kingdoms

by Tom Johnston

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9, ESV)

Amazing, isn’t it? God the Father has delivered us from the spiritual chains of our own sin, freed us from our spiritual blindness. What amazes me more is that so many who claim Christ still walk under the sway of the dark dominion.

The previous several verses speak to the issue quite plainly:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9-12)

First, it seems that St. Paul considered that it was possible for us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, in a way that is a blessing to him, in a way that bears both the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of brining transformation to those who are yet to know Christ. To that end he prayed for his disciples in Colossae – who were confronted with heretical teaching. What he prays for is their ability to have spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that God’s will would be known. Such knowledge allowed the Colossians to live in a manner worthy of their calling in Christ. He also speaks the blessing of divine strength and power, allowing the Colossian Christians to maintain their joy as they walk in patient endurance. It seems that Paul is convinced that such discernment and empowerment was essential for the Colossians to walk effectively with Christ.

Discernment and empowerment. Interesting. Two things which it seems that the Church in the West lacks. This would explain a lot, as it seems many Christians have little ability to endure, to maintain their joy in the midst of trial and difficulty – and to stand amidst the swirl of ideas and influences in a culture dominated by the spirit of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4). This lack of wise discernment and accompanying absence of spiritual virility allows people who are positionally in the Kingdom of God to functionally be trapped in their thought patterns, attitudes and behaviors found in the dominion of darkness. Freed, but acting like slaves. Sons and daughters of the Most High God, but living like spiritual paupers. Having regained their sight, but living in a cloud of befuddling darkens. The “sins stats” in our culture bear this out – most Christians have lives which diverge little from the rest of the population. They remain as partial prisoners of self, of sin, of hell.

Like Paul we need to pray for each of us to have spiritual insight, the ability to make wise choices in every area of life. We need the Spirit’s transforming enlightenment and consequent empowerment to live a life which in its totality is an act of worship before God (Romans 12:1-2). Until people come to a deep understanding of who they are in Christ – their new-birth identity in Him, they remain heavily influenced by darkness. Where we are not renewed in our thinking and transformed in our hearts – in those areas hell can still hold dominion. This need not be.

Dozens of Christian people we know – friends, family, fellow church members – continue to walk as if they are still under the dark dominion. May God so move our hearts that we will pray for them without ceasing, that they may know the freedom which Christ has purchased for them. May God make us just bold and brave enough to go on some very necessary rescue missions, carrying on the spirit-liberating ministry of Jesus, bringing the light of God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness to darkened minds. This is the heart of the Revolution – no prisoners.