The daily prayers I posted on social media Saturday—Monday were comprised of lyrics from the hymn, Lead On, O King Eternal, by Ernest W. Shurtleff.
But the LORD is the true God;
he is the living God and the everlasting King.
At his wrath the earth quakes,
and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
Jeremiah 10:10, 12
I can remember my mom singing this beautiful, majestic hymn.
In my Bible, beside Jeremiah 10:10 and 12, I have a handwritten note, Lead On, O King Eternal. In Jeremiah 10:1-9 we read about man-made, little “g” gods. Beginning in verse ten, Jeremiah talks about the gigantic difference between a little “g” god man makes and has to carry around and the big “G” God who made man and ALL of creation. God is also the provider and sustainer of everything. He is the everlasting/eternal King.
My handwritten notes also refer me to two other Scripture passages: Romans 14:17 and 1 Timothy 6:12.
After understanding that God is THE everlasting/eternal GOD, we need to understand what it means to be a part of the kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 gives us insight here: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The Kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. Here the Apostle Paul reminds us that our lives can be filled with righteousness, peace, and joy in the power, strength, and leading of the Holy Spirit.
1 Timothy 6:12 reminds us that we are to: Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
In the first verse of today’s hymn, we understand that the life of a Christ-follower is a war for which me must prepare to fight the good fight in order to get to heaven, or take hold of eternal life. This fight is against temptation, sin, and the dark powers that fight against us.
Join me in singing this prayer:
Lead on, O King Eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong;
And now, O King Eternal,
We lift our battle song.
Lead on, O King Eternal,
Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords’ loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums;
With deeds of love and mercy
The heav’nly kingdom comes.
Lead on, O King Eternal,
We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o’er us,
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.
Our lives are often a disaster because we do not ask the King Eternal, who is our provider and sustainer, to lead us.
Ask the King Eternal to lead you so that you are prepared for the battles that are raging all around you.
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