All This For a King

6 hours on a plane; airport shuffle to the rental car, driving through amazing green tropics, arriving at the room, I open the balcony doors and step out: welcome to Kauai.  I breathe in the deep ocean air and take in the glorious view of the bluest water crashing against the bluff.  I am without words save for “All this for a king.”  Every grain of sand, every passing wave, every breaching whale: all for a king, the king.  I cannot help but be overwhelmed with the beauty of this place and feel so insignificant amidst God’s vast creation.  Every smell is new to me, every sight is refreshing, and every sound reminds me of how far I am away from my ordinary life.

            Inside this moment I make an evaluation of my life, my jobs, my relationships, my attitudes; regret sets in.  I am not where everyone else is.  I am not as happy as everyone around me, I am without the joy that seemingly comes so easily for all others, but avoids my heart.  The woman I am in love with is not yet my wife, my bills barely get paid most months, my hard work for a degree goes useless (aside from providing plenty of debt); I know change is needed, but where to start?  I look around at the magnificent creation of a sovereign God and then look at my life and cannot help but think “All this for a king?”  How can this life be fit for a king?  How can the creator of such beauty look proudly upon me and say that I too am for Him?  The scenery is perfect, yet I am far from calm inside.

            I take in more deep breaths; just then Julia comes outside to the view with me.  I hold her hand as I relay my feelings of anxiety and confusion.  I know the rocks and sand serve a purpose to a king, but how is it that my life seems to lack such a purpose right now, in front of this great display of glory.   

            I wake up the next morning and sit on the balcony with my MacArthur NASB; I am yearning for the text to speak to me and give be hope.  Paul is speaking to the Jews and Gentiles about God’s work in salvation.  Chapter one gives three things to look for: hope of His Calling, riches of the inheritance, and the glory of His power bestowed on us.  These three promises are not just for me to selfishly claim.  But are in fact for the same king who grants them.  That my life may be hopeful in this calling (Hebrews 11 tells me that my view of success is not the same as God’s) that it may find glory in the riches of my inheritance (1 Peter tells me that this is not for today, but for the day of His revelation) and that I may delight in the power given me (Romans 8 says I am more than a conqueror) then I can gladly say my life is all for a king, The King. 

            I find the view to have less appeal as I reflect on my purpose, whether painful or pleasant, whether I shut the mouths of lions or get devoured (Hebrews 11), no matter my journey I must find joy in knowing that my everything is for a king.  I hold the hand of my love, I share this revelation, we worship our King.  It’s all for Him.