DAY 76 - DIVINE CONSPIRACY
KEATON TUCKER, YA GROUPS TEAM LEAD
“Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
Since my freshman year of college, I have been intrigued by conspiracy theories. My college roommate introduced me to this whole new world of conspiracies that people were into and I had no idea this was even a thing. Ever since then, I have been intrigued. I wouldn’t call myself a conspiracy theorist because in all honesty most of them are way out there like the conspiracy that all-powerful people are actually lizards from the underground world. Weird. But I will say I am intrigued because people who truly believe these conspiracy theories. They see the world in a whole different way.
They believe things are hidden and only certain people see them and it’s those who search them out. They believe there is truth behind the facade of the world that we see. They believe that those who know what is really going on are the ones who are free from the corruption and lies we're told every day. Isn’t that odd?
Not really.
Let’s think about what we believe from a skeptical person’s point of view: we believe that evil and sin entered through one man and since then the world has been on a downward trajectory because of it - all evil, systematic and individual is a result of this one choice. And in the midst of all of the evil, God chose one man Abraham and his family to be the story of redemption of humanity beginning 3500 years ago, culminating in God’s son Jesus the Christ and messiah who was brutally killed by the Roman Empire 2000 years ago, who then rose from the dead, and is now overseeing the course of human history while invisible and bringing about his kingdom, which is invisible, wherein the end, when he returns, will be a place where no evil exists. And we, his followers, believe this is real and that we can see what is invisible but also true.
Yeah. That’s what we believe and it’s the most real thing in all of the world.
Think about this: the kingdom that killed Jesus is studied in history. The kingdom Jesus proclaimed is preached on Sunday.
Did you know the Kingdom of God is growing exponentially in China and Africa? Like crazy kinds of growth and most of it is what we would call underground. It’s hidden from the public and the government. If they were exposed, there would be grave consequences.
Why is the Kingdom of God such a threat to these governments?
In his masterpiece book, Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard says “God’s master plan from the beginning has been to overcome evil with good through the people who put all of their trust in Jesus.” It is more than individual salvation. It’s the redemption of the world.
Why are we talking about this divine conspiracy?
Because our country sits in the middle of political turmoil during this election year and both sides think their nominee is going to save America. Participate in voting, social reform, and ridding the world of social injustice, it is important! But examine your own heart in the secret place: which kingdom are you hoping brings the justice, peace, and redemption you are seeking and hoping for? That we are all seeking. God’s kingdom or another one? Now ask yourself, which kingdom are you putting most of your efforts into?
We can try to force the Kingdom of God into our policies. We can try to have the Kingdom without the King. Or we can invite people into the Kingdom, into a new way of seeing what is really going on in the world. As Paul says in Ephesians 2 “the world is following the prince of the power of the air”. Then again “you have been transferred into the kingdom of his son”. (Colossians 1)
God has been working since the beginning of everything to overcome all evil - individual and systematic and his Kingdom will prevail. It is the surest thing we can all trust in for the redemption we all seek. Your friends, your non-believing ones, desperately want this good news of the Kingdom of God to be true.
The Divine Conspiracy is true. God will overcome all evil and “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:7)