A Kingdom Metaphor

Christ Jesus is Lord of all. The Christian church is His bride.

Imagine, if you will, a benevolent king over all the known world, in the process of ridding such world of all the putrescent effects of a rapacious tyrannical adversary. If the compassionate conqueror is such the good king that he graciously bestows many good things on all his subjects, and especially on those who serve him wholeheartedly, then many would have no problem submitting to such a king. If his wife the queen were to pass through town, many would wish to behold her glorious beauty, the abundance of dazzling adornments with which she and her immediate surroundings are adorned, and the mass of entourage which accompany her to serve her. Now suppose she were to pass through every town and village within the kingdom, led by her husband with the best of his army, and preceded by heralds who announce to all peoples: "The king is coming with his queen! All those whose hearts are so inclined are offered a place and position of service. Loyalty to their majesty, as best expressed by extending grace to his other servants and subjects, will be highly rewarded. Refusal to submit to his gracious lordship or failure to respect his beautiful bride will be answered by severe punishment. All are invited and encouraged to accept his offer, no matter your current social status or physical condition. Poor and rich, sick and healthy, old and young, weak and strong, friendless and famous, – come one, come all!"

Now who wouldn’t want to serve such a king and queen, especially someone who recognizes that the only alternative is continued slavery to the aforesaid dictatorial foe, the final state of which is destruction?