11Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13
I like conspiracy theories - at least in the movies. Often when I hear them in real life, I can't help but think how silly most of them sound. They are intriguing for sure, but they mostly come off sounding plain weird. I'm sure some conspiracy theories have more truth to them than we may realize, but taken as a whole they are usually reserved for 45 year old dudes who live in their mom's basement and listen to Def Leppard's Pyromania album on vinyl (especially that part at the very beginning.....Utah Gleeben Glouten Globen.....or whatever that dude is talking about).
As a pastor, I get some of those conspiracy theorists to show up on my computer or voicemail from time to time. Yesterday I was informed on my voicemail that "God has rejected me" by one of the conspiracy theorists. At other times, I have been lumped in with the "whore of Babylon" when I didn't buy into the idea that the New Jerusalem would actually be in Niagara Falls (wouldn't be far to travel to the Crystal Sea though would it?). It generally just gives me a laugh (at myself since I don't take myself too seriously) and a sadness (for the desperation that I hear in the conspiracy theorists voice) all at the same time, and I go on with my day hoping that I don't accidentally vote for the antichrist in the election (that's a joke, but yep, I get that one too).
All this chatter did get me thinking though. There is a conspiracy that is real. And it's one that God drummed up. God has called his people to be co-conspirers in plotting a revolution of revealing the kingdom. The kingdom of the heavens is in and among us right now. It is already and not yet at the same time. And God has allowed us to be a part of revealing this conspiracy of God to overthrow darkness and make all wrong things right.
What's also cool about this conspiracy is that once the kingdom comes in full, at the appearing of Jesus, then we are actually going to be a part of reigning with God. Right now we are co-conspirators, but someday we will be co-reigners, co-rulers, and co-creators. We are all of those things right now - except not clearly, or perfectly, or wholly. But one day, the conspiracy will unveil its full reality. That will be a good day.
I'm looking forward to being a part of that great day. But in the meantime, I want to co-conspire with God to demonstrate the kingdom that is coming in the now. That is a much fuller, more beautiful, and increasingly purposeful way to live.......and it takes my mind off of who I am going to get to try to be my stunt double as the "whore of Babylon."
