The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. – Psalm 103:19 (NASB)
When the King of England died in 1952, his daughter Elizabeth was thrust onto the world stage as Queen of the United Kingdom. In the Netflix series “The Crown” the Queen’s grandmother writes Elizabeth a powerful letter as she prepares to become Queen. In the letter she says:
I have seen three great monarchies brought down through their failure to separate personal indulgences from duty. You must not allow yourself to make similar mistakes. And while you mourn your Father, you must also mourn someone else….Elizabeth Mountbatten; for she has been replaced by another person – Elizabeth Regina. The two Elizabeth’s will frequently be in conflict with each other. The fact is, the crown must win. Must always win.
There are several spiritual parallels inside this striking letter from a grandmother who wants the best for her kingdom.
I) “Great monarchies have fallen because of a failure to separate personal indulgences from a duty to the British kingdom.” Great opportunity to join God in His kingdom plans fail when our selfish ambitions (sin) take priority over our commitment to the Lord.
II) “Elizabeth Mountbatten has been replaced by another person – Elizabeth Regina. The two Elizabeth’s will frequently be in conflict with each other.” This statement is a picture of a mysterious spiritual truth for followers of Christ, for we too have experienced this change in personhood. Our “old self”, the person we were before we were born again, is dead. Yet we often find ourselves in conflict as we listen to and agree with this ghost from the past.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:26 (NASB)
III) “The fact is, the crown must win. Must always win.” By His grace, we desire that God’s Kingdom, His crown, win. In all our choices, attitudes, actions, and reactions, may we desire that His crown win.
Unlike the exclusive and temporary nature of earthly royalty, the door to heavenly royalty is wide open to all…all who believe and trust in the One true God and His son Jesus, who paid the price for our disobedience. We are now sons and daughters of the true King; joint heirs to a heavenly throne.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. – Romans 8:17 (NIV)
Challenge
The question, of course, is whether we will believe this basic reality of who we are as sons and daughters of the living God….if we will live our lives knowing this when we encounter challenges, sufferings, opportunity and even the ordinary things of life…..or will we allow the world to pull us toward our old life, our old self?
Prayer
Lord, I ask that you help all of us to remember who we are. To not accept the whisper of the enemy that our old man is alive. We were buried with Christ and our new man lives. Lord help me and help us all to abide with Your Spirit such that we live as conquerors and victors for Your kingdom’s glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen
