The nature of kings
by Lynn Slagel, Goshen, Ind.
Great kingdoms appear subject to constraints leading to ruin. Biblical Samuel gave warnings as to demands and the nature of kings. The Roman Empire, being built upon pillage and slavery, later lay in ruin.
Today, nations like ours have many powerful kings. Their greatness and wealth makes similar demands. By free markets and globalization, they make claims to resources and cheap labor in remote regions of our world. Their demands are greater than any past pharaoh or king. Likewise, being built upon forms of plunder and environmental ruin, they take more from life than is given in return. Great kingdoms never endure, for such is the nature of its kings.
But there came a king of humble estate, who held the lowly high rather than the powerful. His was not a sterile environment, removed from the multitudes, perched on a throne. He taught, healed and was touched by ordinary people. He spoke of a kingdom without the constraints of time, matter or space but having an everlasting domain.
Behold the nature of this King.
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