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So, we talk of this Kingdom. It sounds great, right? we use words like beautiful, amazing, restored… but what of it?
Over the past 7 years, Gene has been teaching/preaching about the Kingdom of God. These teachings have been new to many and as a result I have found myself in numerous conversatons that start with “I just don’t get it” “What is the Kingdom, is it heaven? is it now?” or “Why haven’t I heard more about this?” “What’s makes the “kingdom” different than “church life”?…
These questions, we see, are not new – and they are very good questions! What was it that Jesus was talking about the whole time he was here? We read of Pilate’s dilemma in John 18:33-37 -that is only one example of someone who just didn’t “get it”.
What of this “other realm”?
One clue may be found in noting that the greek word for “kingdom” in John 18:36 is the same word used in Mark 11:10. It is also the same word used throughout Matthew 5 – a description given by Jesus of what the Kingdom of God “looks” like – basileia: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.
Jesus used this phrase “kingdom of God” or “of heaven” to point to the perfect order of things which he was about to establish. In this order, every nation who would believe in him are to be gathered together in one society, set apart and intimately united, reconciled to God – partakers of eternal salvation (remember our reading from Daniel…). This is a kindom that is accessible to us now, if we believe, if we are open to the truth that Jesus brings. It is a “realm” in which a king is honored – our Creator and all that He has created. A Kingdom in which our allegiance is pledged to a certain King and His way, His order.
It is not about religous duty, church attendance, good behavior – although spiritual disciplines are beneficial to create the space for Christ to be formed in us – it is about embracing truth and beauty and a love that runs deeper than we can imagine. It is about loving and honoring God by living according to our original purpose -our divine design. It is about being open to the presence of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit and living in cooperation with Him.
The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. Running ahead and following after, they were calling out,
Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!
Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in highest heaven!
What a fun way to begin the Christmas season too!…pondering the Kingdom of God – ushered into the here and now by the birth of Jesus!
“14. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed…”
shopping the day after thanksgiving is ridiculous. i have never understood what the big deal about it all is, but almost every year i have found myself in its midst. it never starts off on purpose, just as a day off with a few errands to run, and it isn’t until i am parking my car a good shuttle ride away from the door that i remember what is going on. glorious. now, i am a people watcher, and the best place – i am convinced – to do people watching is at the mall on this particular day. there are crowds of them. flocks. gaggles. herds. you see every sex, age, race, financial class, and education level at the mall. it is this leveled playing field of sorts. and we are all there because we need something…we need something that we can’t produce on our own. do you so where i am going with this?
this verse talks about the kingdom never ending. that means, that the kingdom is this constant as we speak churning around us. it is a living and breathing organism that is growing and changing and liberating and revealing. it didn’t stop; it continues. and the “it” that continues is this leveling of the playing field. this bringing all of creation back into line with the way the creator intended it to be…a leveled playing field of people who need something that they cannot produce on their own. a leveled playing field of all sorts of different types of people who are made in the image of the same creator with the same core need shared among them all…the love and redemption and restoration that the kingdom of god here and now can bring.
which moves me, and moves me forward a bit in my thinking. if here in our midst is the kingdom, and the kingdom brings a level playing field as it comes crashing into earth, and a level playing field means that people of every race and nation and language are unified in their creator….
then this begs the question…if there is any ounce of racism, or hatred, or loathing, or distrust for another people group, that is lurking somewhere inside of me… if this is the case a midst a present kingdom that calls for unification in our creator as it crashes into earth, then things are about to get incredibly uncomfortable. are we going to be uncomfortable bowing shoulder to shoulder with all of mankind before the king?
The floods have risen up, O Lord.
The floods have roared like thunder;
the floods have lifted their pounding waves.
But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—
the Lord above is mightier than these!
Your royal laws cannot be changed.
Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.
Hebrews 10:31-39
It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
This is an important reminder. I’m afraid that we’ve often fallen too much into the “God’s my buddy” mentality and forgot that He is the Creator, Sustainer, Savior and Judge as well. He is merciful but His mercy is not to be taken lightly. He is love. He is grace. But His love and grace should not be taken lightly. He is the one to Whom we will give an account. This is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly either. A small God usually results in small faith and small obedience. I’m speaking to myself here
Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
“For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
From a theological perspective I believe the writer of Hebrews is writing to Jews who had experienced the grace of God through Christ and now were considering returning to their old way of life before Christ, especially in regards to earning God’s favor through holding to certain rituals. He is telling them that there is no place to turn back to. With Christ’s life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension and new era had come. The old way that God interacted with humanity no longer existed. The former way was only a foreshadowing of what Christ would fulfill. That’ the theological perspective.
From the perspective of someone who has walked with Christ for 20 years now these verses remind me that the life of faith isn’t lived in 1, 5, 10, 20, etc. years, it is lived for a lifetime. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen begin the life of faith in those 20 years who simply aren’t anymore. It hasn’t mattered how talented they were, how much of the Bible they new, or even the amount of religious activities they were part of. None of that really mattered. What mattered is one day they said by word or action, this is where I refuse to go any further. I choose my own way over His.
Statistics say I have 30-35 years left. How will my story end? I know what I desire. I know what God desires. The reality is only God knows and only time will tell. The life of faith is difficult. It’s hard to walk by faith and not by sight. I have only just begun.
“Father, give me the strength to always say yes. In Jesus name. Amen.”
En Gedi 