EDITORIAL
In the Trenches | Eric Geiger
In the Trenches | Eric Geiger: Unlike the early Christians who lived under the rule of the Roman Empire, we can be grateful as we approach another presidential election to live in a country where we participate in the political process. Even so, we are guided by God’s kingdom and remain inspired by the early Christians’ hope in Christ in the midst of a chaotic world that was often set against them.
The apostle Peter calls the early Christians “exiles” (1 Peter 2:11) and compares Rome to Babylon (5:13). While in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar received two dreams that Daniel interpreted, both of which point toward our ultimate home and hope.
The first dream Daniel interprets for Nebuchadnezzar involves a massive statue. According to the text, the golden head represents Babylon, and most scholars believe the succeeding kingdoms are Persia, Greece, and the Roman Empire. In the dream, a stone broke off and struck the statue on its feet, shattering the kingdoms until not a trace of them remained. This stone eventually filled the whole earth because “the God of the heavens will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.”
The second dream that Daniel interprets for Nebuchadnezzar is about a tree in the middle of the earth where the birds of the air come and nest in the branches. Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that he is the tree because the kingdom he leads is so powerful and fruitful, but the tree will be cut down because of his pride. Nebuchadnezzar, after being humbled, declares God’s “dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.”
Surely the early Christians, who Peter called exiles, found encouragement in the meaning of those dream’s full meanings. We can too.
Jesus is “the stone that the builders rejected—this one has become the cornerstone” (2:7). He is the cornerstone of those who trust him and the One who crushes every other kingdom. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom that will fill the whole earth because a day is coming when everything will be made right and there will be no more pain, suffering or injustice. This was true living within the chaos of the Roman empire, and it is true now: Every earthly kingdom will fail, but the kingdom to which we belong will last forever.
When Jesus taught his disciples about his kingdom beginning small as a mustard seed and growing large, he alluded to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, insisting a day would come when birds would nest in the kingdom’s branches (Matt. 13:31–32). Jesus’ words have happened. His kingdom started small, but has grown very large as people around the world worship him as King. And the birds of the air nest in the branches of his kingdom as his kingdom blesses others and is for the good of the world.
The kingdom we belong to is eternal and as we live in his kingdom. We are to bless and serve those around us.