Not a Cigarette or Bad Habit

What is a viceroy? I don’t mean a cigarette from the 1930s. What kind of person is a viceroy? 

Let’s break down the word. By vice, I don’t mean a habit of rebellion against God’s ways: prostitution, drugs, eating too much, or drunkenness. I’m not talking about any reason to call the vice squad. Vice means “second in office”. Second to any president is a vice president. Second to a full Admiral of the Navy is a Vice Admiral. Roy is not just a man’s name. It is the Norman word for king from which we get the word “royal” – of the king.

A viceroy is second to the king, a vizier or prime minister. Joseph son of Jacob was second to Potiphar over his house. He became second to the warden of the prison into which Joseph was unjustly cast. He was then second to Pharaoh over Egypt.

God’s Seconds in Command on Earth

The Creator made Humanity His viceroys on Earth. He said, “Now let Us conceive a new creation—humanity—made in Our image, fashioned according to Our likeness. And let Us grant them authority over all the earth—the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, the domesticated animals and the small creeping creatures on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26, The Voice)

He spoke to Adam and Eve, “Then God blessed them and gave them this directive: “Be fruitful and multiply. Populate the earth. I make you trustees of My estate, so care for My creation and rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that roams across the earth.” (vs. 28)

Psalm 115:16 says, “The heavens above belong to the Eternal, and yet Earth has been given to Humanity by Him.” This works for unbelievers, as well. When God visited the tower that disobedient men decided to build to the heavens, He said “This is only the beginning of what they will do. Soon they will think they can accomplish anything and everything on their own.” (Genesis 11:6)

(Note that God planned the creation of the heavens and the Earth. He planned for Humanity’s rulership over the Earth. He put into Humanity to plan their rulership. He planned for Humanity’s redemption “…from the foundations of the Earth.” Rulership requires planning.)

To His disciples, Jesus said,  “Remember this: whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth will be loosed in Heaven. And this: if two or three of you come together as a community and discern clearly about anything, My Father in Heaven will bless that discernment. For when two or three gather together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:18-20)

He meant this for His chosen people. “…for on this rock I will build My ecclesia. The ecclesia will reign triumphant even at the gates of Hades. I give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth will be loosed in Heaven.” (Matthew 16: 18-19)

The Enemy and his minions will not conquer us who really believe. Rather, we will conquer him and take territory he holds illegally.

God’s Viceroys in Bondage to His Enemy

The Enemy tricked Adam into trading masters. Adam and Eve were ruling under God’s authority as Creator. Then they gave in to the Enemy’s lies and disobeyed God’s one prohibition. In doing so, Humanity came under the Enemy’s rule.

“Doesn’t it make sense that if you sign yourself over as a slave, you will have to obey your master? The question before you is, What will be your master? Will it be sin — which will lead to certain death — or obedience — which will lead to a right and reconciled life?”(Romans 6: 16)

Adam rejected the life, peace, and rest of the Creator’s reign. This resulted in the wages of death, fear, and toil in poverty.

The Enemy does not own the Earth. “The Earth and all that’s upon it belong to the Eternal. The world is His, with every living creature on it.” (Psalm 24: 1) The Creator still owns the Earth while Humanity rules as God’s viceroys. We have free will to submit to God… or to the Enemy.

The Enemy still uses deception to get humans to believe his words against God. This makes them act as cruelly as the Enemy would have them. This is why evil is in the world: rape, murder, slavery, cancer, poverty, Monday mornings, and “acts of God” – which are not the actions of God. 

God is not at fault. He does not cause evil. It is the Enemy’s work through deception of Humanity. Neither does God prevent evil. That is Humanity’s job as viceroys.

Judgments are the natural consequences of people breaking laws built into Creation: gravity, diets and exercise, sexual relations, social interactions. “Cursed is the ground. For the rest of your life, you will fight for every crumb of food from the crusty clump of clay I made you from.” (Genesis 3:17) There would no longer be easy taking of provision. Rather, Humanity would face lack and would toil in the sweat of the brow. We would have earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, and floods. 

God’s Sons as His Viceroys

Evil can be stopped or diverted by humans. We have been deceived into thinking we have no control. Jesus came to show us otherwise. Acting as God’s viceroy, He 

• turned water into wine
• enabled His apprentices to feed thousands with a few fish and loaves…twice
• healed the sick, cast out demons, preached God’s provision
• calmed storms and walked on water.

This was His second most important work. He reminded His students we have that same authority.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela led thousands against the evils of prejudice and race laws in the US and South Africa. William Wilberforce led thousands against the evil of slavery in Great Britain.

It works for “ordinary” people as well. During a thunderstorm, lightning and power loss missed the rural house of Rabbi William Holbrook. It became a light in a sea of darkness.

God’s plan is to bring His Kingdom back to Earth. However, He must find humans who will believe His Word instead of the apparent facts.

Jesus was walking to the house of Jarius to heal his daughter, who was ill.

Right at that instant, one of Jairus’s household servants arrived. He said, “Sir, your daughter is dead. It’s no use bothering the Teacher with this anymore.” Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. Just believe. She’ll be well again.” (Luke 8:49-50)

Jesus went on to heal the girl, apparently raising her from death.

God looks for people who will speak His will and their desires and will behave accordingly. He had men write down His Word, His thoughts. “All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right” (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Bible is for us to study and to build up our trusting obedience. It is for preaching and teaching how to live as God’s viceroys on Earth.

God Wants More Viceroys

The King is looking for humans who will go to all ethnic groups with His Word, peoples of the same speech, thoughts, and customs: 

• Nationalities, races, neighborhoods, families
• Professions, social groups, political parties, gangs.

God wants to find humans who will bring His Kingdom to all areas of life and society.

• Economics, politics, relationships, government and law
• Sex, entertainment, religion, warfare
• Health, finances, morality.

He wants to find people who will go to serve, who will meet the needs of other people His way… out there in the world, each according to individual and corporate purposes.

God wants His people to make plans, to call upon His power to fulfill those plans, to step out and work to complete those plans as His viceroys on the Earth.

Shalom