I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the kingdom of heaven. This “kingdom of heaven” is constantly mentioned throughout the gospels. A large part of what Jesus spoke about centered on this subject. He even told his followers to go around saying that this kingdom had come. I used to feel like I never quite understood what Jesus (or his unorthodox cousin John) meant by saying the kingdom of heaven had come.
To me, the term “kingdom of heaven” seemed like some far out idea that fit better in a fairy tale than in the “real world.” Heaven (whatever that is or looks like) has its place out there, and we have ours on this earth. And never the twain shall meet?
But that’s not what Jesus said. He said they do, in fact, meet. And that this kingdom of heaven is found here on earth. In addition to this, he said the ones who inhabit it are the poor and the persecuted. Doesn’t exactly sound like the American dream does it?
I was reading the Acts account in the Scriptures recently and was reminded of how the Jewish people during Jesus’ day misunderstood this kingdom as well. They thought that it was something national. They believed that it was about restructuring the politics of the empire they lived in. They wanted representation, land ownership, economic reform, and national healthcare. They wanted a return to the “Jewish” nation their forefathers believed in. But Jesus was introducing something much greater than a new and better government. He was introducing a kingdom made up of people that would live as God created them to. This kingdom is not bound by land or territory. It has no central government. There is neither a temple, nor a White House. Instead, with Jesus as the king, this kingdom is to be lived out in the hearts of those who seek after God and the way he created the world to be. A kingdom of heaven.
I have come to believe that the kingdom of heaven isn’t some distant, metaphysical reality that we all hope we’ll go to someday. It isn’t golden streets or 72 virgins or half naked babies with harps. It is a movement begun by Jesus to live in alignment with the heart of God. It is an invitation to live as God has created us to. It is a new world order. Jesus introduced a new way to love, work, spend, speak, and live in this world; and it models the way we were truly designed to be. When Jesus said the kingdom of heaven had come, he was saying that it is time to live on earth like we would live in a kingdom in heaven. And it all takes after the heart of Jesus.
More on this and how it relates to my life and work in NYC to come…
It's interesting to me when we look into the concept of the new heaven and the new earth. Looking at that as a "Real Kingdom" depicts a similar world in which we eat, sleep, work... "live life" just like we are now, but with God as the center. That has always baffled me. Would it really be anything like it is now? Yet, I never imagined ...WORKING .. and living .. and hanging out with people in heaven. So it is interesting to me, how Jesus describes heaven as a place where our focus is entirely different. Where, in the presence of God, the next Apple product or finding you soul-mate... those don't even contest to catch our attention.
ReplyDeleteI think we'll benefit from listening a little more closely to EXACTLY what Jesus said about the kingdom here and now, and later.
Good post, very interesting how Jesus said that the kingdom had come. Not coming, come. Just like the Christian lifestyle isn't something you get around to when you feel like it. It's living the life of Christ daily and being the kingdom of heaven on earth. There's much about the kingdom we won't understand but I think this is a good start. Thanks Steve, truly inspirational. I know God is using you in NYC and I pray that you yield to Him when you come back to Bing and you don't stop livin the kingdom.
ReplyDeleteEric and Levi,
ReplyDeleteYeah I definitely agree. I often wonder what a God-centric community would look like. I grew up thinking that any kind of heaven would be completely different than our experience here on earth. But so much of what we do experience here on earth is good. I can't help but think that whatever our future experience with God is, it will still benefit from human creativity. The question is, what will that look like without the presence of evil in the world? I'll be airing out some thoughts on this in my next upcoming post.
Steve. We Need More!
ReplyDelete