September 14th, 2025
by Rev. Kevin C Benton
by Rev. Kevin C Benton
The King is Coming: Faithful and True
In the grand tapestry of faith, there's a thread that weaves through every believer's journey – the anticipation of Christ's return. But how often do we truly contemplate the nature of the King who's coming? It's time to look beyond the gentle depictions we've grown accustomed to and behold the awe-inspiring reality of who Jesus truly is.
Revelation 19:11-16 paints a vivid picture that might shake our comfortable perceptions:
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."
This isn't the soft-spoken carpenter from Nazareth we often envision. This is the Lion of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with eyes of fire and a sharp sword protruding from His mouth. It's a stark reminder that while Jesus is indeed loving and compassionate, He's also the all-powerful, all-knowing God who will one day return to judge the nations.
But what does this mean for us today, in our everyday lives?
First, we must recognize that God is faithful and true to His character. He cannot be untrue to who He is. This means He's faithful to His promises, but also to His nature. We can't ask a holy God to be unholy, or expect Him to contradict His word. This unwavering faithfulness should both comfort and challenge us.
Comfort, because we can trust that God will always be who He says He is. Challenge, because it calls us to align our lives with His righteousness. As the scripture states, "He can only rule over a kingdom where the people are willing to live under a reign of righteousness." This applies not just to His future earthly reign, but to our hearts and lives right now.
Are we allowing God to remove the things that offend His kingdom from our lives? Or are we holding onto attitudes, behaviors, or thought patterns that resist His reign? It's time to stop "playing church" and truly become the church – born again, sold out, fire-filled believers whose greatest desire is to see God's righteousness manifested in and through us.
This brings us to a crucial point: God sees everything. Those eyes of fire penetrate our souls, detecting rebellion and unbelief. We might fool others with our religious t-shirts and wristbands, but God knows our hearts. He sees when we're merely going through the motions, when our prayers lack faith, or when we've allowed complacency to creep in.
Consider the story of Gideon, found threshing wheat in a winepress out of fear of his enemies. How many of us are operating in places we don't belong spiritually, cowering in valleys when we should be standing tall on the threshing floor of faith? It's time to let God truly reign and rule in every aspect of our lives.
The good news is that this same all-seeing God is also fighting for us. While His nature demands justice, His love provides grace. As 2 Timothy 2:13 reminds us, "If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself." Even when we wander, His character remains constant.
This is beautifully illustrated in the parable of the Prodigal Son. The father in the story, representing God, allows his son to leave and squander his inheritance. Yet he never stops watching for his return, ready to welcome him home with open arms. This is the heart of our God – just and holy, yet merciful and loving.
It's crucial to understand that Jesus is not just the "Word made flesh" who walked among us (John 1:14), but He is the eternal Word of God. This means that every promise in Scripture, every declaration of God's character, is embodied in Christ. When we read the Bible, we're not just studying ancient texts; we're encountering the living Word.
As we navigate life's challenges, we need to keep this powerful image of Christ before us. When facing trials, don't picture a meek and mild Jesus – envision the King of Kings, the one with eyes of fire and a sharp sword, who has all authority in heaven and on earth. This is the God who fights for you, who intercedes for you daily.
Remember, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). The same power that will one day judge the nations is available to you right now, to overcome every obstacle and resist every temptation.
So, how do we respond to this revelation of who God truly is?
Are you ready for His return? More importantly, are you living today in light of who He truly is? May we all be found faithful, our lamps trimmed and burning bright, eagerly awaiting the day when we'll see our King face to face.
In the grand tapestry of faith, there's a thread that weaves through every believer's journey – the anticipation of Christ's return. But how often do we truly contemplate the nature of the King who's coming? It's time to look beyond the gentle depictions we've grown accustomed to and behold the awe-inspiring reality of who Jesus truly is.
Revelation 19:11-16 paints a vivid picture that might shake our comfortable perceptions:
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."
This isn't the soft-spoken carpenter from Nazareth we often envision. This is the Lion of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with eyes of fire and a sharp sword protruding from His mouth. It's a stark reminder that while Jesus is indeed loving and compassionate, He's also the all-powerful, all-knowing God who will one day return to judge the nations.
But what does this mean for us today, in our everyday lives?
First, we must recognize that God is faithful and true to His character. He cannot be untrue to who He is. This means He's faithful to His promises, but also to His nature. We can't ask a holy God to be unholy, or expect Him to contradict His word. This unwavering faithfulness should both comfort and challenge us.
Comfort, because we can trust that God will always be who He says He is. Challenge, because it calls us to align our lives with His righteousness. As the scripture states, "He can only rule over a kingdom where the people are willing to live under a reign of righteousness." This applies not just to His future earthly reign, but to our hearts and lives right now.
Are we allowing God to remove the things that offend His kingdom from our lives? Or are we holding onto attitudes, behaviors, or thought patterns that resist His reign? It's time to stop "playing church" and truly become the church – born again, sold out, fire-filled believers whose greatest desire is to see God's righteousness manifested in and through us.
This brings us to a crucial point: God sees everything. Those eyes of fire penetrate our souls, detecting rebellion and unbelief. We might fool others with our religious t-shirts and wristbands, but God knows our hearts. He sees when we're merely going through the motions, when our prayers lack faith, or when we've allowed complacency to creep in.
Consider the story of Gideon, found threshing wheat in a winepress out of fear of his enemies. How many of us are operating in places we don't belong spiritually, cowering in valleys when we should be standing tall on the threshing floor of faith? It's time to let God truly reign and rule in every aspect of our lives.
The good news is that this same all-seeing God is also fighting for us. While His nature demands justice, His love provides grace. As 2 Timothy 2:13 reminds us, "If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself." Even when we wander, His character remains constant.
This is beautifully illustrated in the parable of the Prodigal Son. The father in the story, representing God, allows his son to leave and squander his inheritance. Yet he never stops watching for his return, ready to welcome him home with open arms. This is the heart of our God – just and holy, yet merciful and loving.
It's crucial to understand that Jesus is not just the "Word made flesh" who walked among us (John 1:14), but He is the eternal Word of God. This means that every promise in Scripture, every declaration of God's character, is embodied in Christ. When we read the Bible, we're not just studying ancient texts; we're encountering the living Word.
As we navigate life's challenges, we need to keep this powerful image of Christ before us. When facing trials, don't picture a meek and mild Jesus – envision the King of Kings, the one with eyes of fire and a sharp sword, who has all authority in heaven and on earth. This is the God who fights for you, who intercedes for you daily.
Remember, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). The same power that will one day judge the nations is available to you right now, to overcome every obstacle and resist every temptation.
So, how do we respond to this revelation of who God truly is?
- Seek His righteousness above all else. Allow Him to remove anything in your life that doesn't align with His kingdom.
- Live with an awareness of His presence. Those eyes of fire see everything – let that motivate you to live with integrity, even when no one else is watching.
- Trust in His faithfulness. No matter how dire your circumstances may seem, God cannot deny Himself or go back on His word.
- Prepare for His return. Live each day as if it could be the day Christ comes back. Be "rapture ready."
- Draw strength from His power. When facing spiritual battles, remember you serve the Lion of Judah, not a tame house cat.
Are you ready for His return? More importantly, are you living today in light of who He truly is? May we all be found faithful, our lamps trimmed and burning bright, eagerly awaiting the day when we'll see our King face to face.
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