The driver license is only one little thing, but the world makes it into a big thing. Have you ever observed what happens when Paul Revere goes out on the highways and is pulled over by a policeman? Do you know what they do? Since Paul Revere does not have a driver license from the State and doesn't recognize their institutions of violent government, they throw him in jail! And do you know what they do to the car? The first thing they do is pull off the "Heaven" license plates. The very first thing - even before they tow. Those plates come off so fast that if you blink, you'll miss it! If they were dealer plates, the police wouldn't think anything of it. But because they say "Heaven" and are a reminder of the Kingdom of Heaven, they pull those plates off. That tells me we're right on course. They're highly offended by the Kingdom of Heaven.43 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? They cannot stand a Government of service because they do not serve. They only want a government of lordship. They love a government of lordship because they're in the higher seats.44 Mark 12:38-40 Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
Imagine being a police officer for a day. You get to stop people, write them a citation and spoil their day. The law is their accuser. You don't have to worry, you have all the immunity you need. The entire court system protects you. And they believe everything you say, whether you say the truth or not. The court says, "Yes, we know this police officer. He has been on the force for ten years. We trust his word more than this other man we just met today." What awesome power you would have as a police officer.45 Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Why is this power in the hands of mere men? Man is an abuser of power. Jesus understood this.46 John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. That is why He described the Kingdom of Heaven as a place where everyone serves.47 Matthew 23:11-12 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Serving tears down power. Leave the power in God's hands where it should be. No man should rule over another man because man is not capable of handling this kind of power.48 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
In Matthew Chapter 23, Jesus goes on a rampage. He's upset. He has His woes to the world - to the Pharisees and Scribes. He instructs us, "Do not call another man teacher, for only One is our teacher, only One is our master, that is Christ, and Christ is God." Do not lord it over one another.49 Matthew 23:10 "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ."
I saw lordship in action a couple years ago and I was amazed. Someone sent me a $10 postal money order. I went down to the post office to cash it. This particular postal money order was blank. It didn't say who it was from or who it was for. I presented the postal money order to the clerk expecting to receive $10. The woman said, "I'm sorry but this money order has no name on it so I can't pay it." I took it back and wrote in the name Paul Revere and gave it to her. Then she wanted to see identification. I was surprised, but pulled out the Church picture identification card. She looked at it and said, "How do I know that you're Paul Revere?"
All of a sudden I saw the whole thing rolling out before me - the clerk was exercising lordship over me. And I had to build a defense. There I was trying to convince her that I was somebody. I said, "You can look in the phone book, or you can ask someone - just about everybody in town knows me." Finally, she smiled, pulled out $10 and gave it to me. But I'll never forget that day, because here was a clerk who seized an opportunity at lordship. And she succeeded.
In Romans 13:8 Apostle Paul says, "Owe no man anything but the continuing debt to love one another." This passage is crucial. He was saying, "Do not lord it over one another. Leave no debts outstanding." Settle your accounts by evening, leave nothing outstanding.50 Exodus 22:25-27 "If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. If you ever take your neighbor's garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious." The only debt is love. And what is love but serving, doing to others as you would want to have done to yourself, that is the entire message. Do not lord over one another. Do not be in a position of lording, and do not be lorded over. Both of them are a part of that form of government that is a sin according to the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven requires service. Serve one another. More specifically, give your entire allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven, to God, to His Son, and in like manner, serve one another. Love one another.51 1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. I am not loving anybody by going down to the Department of Motor Vehicles and obtaining a driver license and bringing myself under servitude to the State of Oregon.52 1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Then I am required to be obedient to manmade laws. I have violated the Kingdom of Heaven - my salvation is at stake. Anyone who goes down and obtains a driver license is going to perish. They have worshiped the beast. They have committed idolatry, they have worshiped another god, with a small "g."53 Galatians 4:8-9 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?