Who Is on the Throne? by Arthur W. George

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1902

Who Is on the Throne?

By Arthur W. George

ARTHUR W. GEORGE

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Prov. 16:32. The man who bears rule over the realm of the inner life alone possesses the elements of true kingship. He is more truly a king than the monarch upon an earthly throne. Many kings have failed to be rulers because they lacked this quality of self-rule.

In the beginning God gave man dominion. He sat a king upon the throne of the kingdom that is within. His Creator placed the scepter of righteousness in his hand, and it was in his power to rule his own life in harmony with the principles of God’s eternal government. But who now is on the throne? Who now reigns in the realm of the human heart? Who sits upon the throne of your heart and mine? Is sin upon the throne? Are evil habits, appetites, and passions reigning there supreme? Are evil imaginations and hateful thoughts swaying their dark scepter over the realm of life? If this be true, a cruel enemy has taken the throne, spreading devastation and sure destruction; and we who should reign are bound in chains that no human power can break. The man, designed by his Creator to be a sovereign, has become a servant—a slave. But, thank God, not without hope. There is one who is able to reclaim the lost dominion. The Commander of heaven, who never lost a battle, stands just outside the gate with all his heavenly host only awaiting the invitation to come in and vanquish every foe. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you” (Eze. 36:26); and then “sin shall not have dominion over you.” Rom. 6:14.

He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15. The Son of God came to this world and lived in human flesh like our own, and was met by every enemy that has vanquished our hearts; yet he sat unmoved upon the throne of his own human soul. He wants to be crowned King of our hearts. And he will rule there as he did in his own human heart when on earth, if we will but let him in. When Christ is enthroned within, then it is that the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21), and Christ, the second Adam, holds the scepter of righteousness—sovereign of every thought and word and deed. When we shall have given to Christ his place upon the throne of the kingdom within, then he will fulfill his glorious promises to us: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.” Rev. 3:21.

In what way can Christ enter the hearts of men? “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. It is through the word that Christ reveals himself to us. The reception of the word brings Christ into the life. By daily study of the word, by feeding upon it as our daily bread, it becomes a part of us; and its truths become the ruling influence of the life. The word of God is not confined to the Bible alone. His voice is heard in nature; it is written in the sky, and over the landscape, in grass, and trees, and flowers. Take God’s word into the soul. It is the living water. Drink deep draughts of it; and it will be in you a well of living water, an ever-flowing fountain, springing up into everlasting life.

Did you ever stand by a stream of water, coursing down a mountain slope, and notice how clean and white the pebbles in its shining bed? And have you noticed the stagnant stream, flowing lazily through the valley, how the unshapely stones in its muddy channel were covered with slime and filth? What makes the difference? It is the swift-flowing stream that burnishes the stones, and cuts its way through the rocks. Keep a stream of the clear water of life from the living fountain of God’s word ever briskly coursing through the mind to cleanse and purify its thoughts. Keep the living stream always flowing. Let it be continually fed from every spring on the mountain side of truth. And the thoughts, the impulses and imaginations of the heart, will sparkle with purity, and shine out in the life in words of truth and deeds of love.