How God’s Kingdom Comes

We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

–Acts 14.15b-17 (NIV)

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

–Mark 4.30-32 (NIV)

In today’s lesson we get an insight into how the kingdom of God (or kingdom of heaven) works. It comes on us gradually but surely and we have an opportunity to be part of its breaking in.

This is to our benefit, of course, that God has chosen to introduce his rule (his kingdom) gradually and primarily through human agency. Since God cannot and will not tolerate evil, and since evil in any form (including our wayward rebelliousness) will be destroyed when it comes into direct contract with God, God has demonstrated his great love and mercy for us by dealing with evil on the cross and then using those whom he calls to help him bring about his rule on earth as in heaven until he returns again to consummate his redemptive work in the New Creation.

That is why the “great and terrible Day of the Lord” will be so great and terrible. When Christ returns in great power and glory to finish his redemptive work, evil will be totally consumed and dealt with in an awful way. And of course when we are cut off from the Source and Author of all life, there can be nothing left but death, real and permanent death. But God does not want his creatures to be destroyed. He wants us to turn back to him and acknowledge him to be our God so that we might enjoy his peace and experience true happiness and life. What great grace and what a great opportunity for all of us, especially those whom God calls to be his kingdom workers!

Therefore, we who choose to put our hope and trust in Jesus have work to do. He calls us to help him and equips us for the work by giving us his Spirit to transform us and shape our character to be consistent with his. But because we are finite, fallible, and mortal, our work will necessarily be incomplete and gradual. We often bring Christ’s love to bear on people one person at a time so that just like the mustard seed, God uses us to bring in his kingdom to those who need it the most, even when we get it wrong on occasion.

As Christians we can often get discouraged by all this because it appears to us sometimes that our work is for naught, that nothing around us is changing. But as Jesus reminds us today, we must resist the temptation to think this way. We have to trust God and take him at his word that he is using us to help him bring about his kingdom and that he has dealt with evil decisively on the cross. We have to remember his great mercy for his broken and sinful creatures. We must keep in mind that he is patient with us and gives us countless opportunities to turn back to him rather than to ourselves or other false gods. And we must always remember that even though the in-breaking of the kingdom is slow and gradual, it is coming. God does use our work to help him bring forth his kingdom on earth as in heaven.

All this gives us reason to hope for our future and to find meaning and purpose for living right here and now. God is going to redeem his fallen creation and creatures and in his infinite wisdom has called humans to help him in that task. If you are struggling to find hope and purpose for living, think on these things as you consider how God in Christ is bringing forth his kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Say yes to his gracious invitation to you to have life and to join in on this great work of healing and redemption.

Be prepared to meet massive opposition and possible suffering as you begin the work. But also realize that when you do encounter opposition and suffering for the kingdom’s sake, the world, which is implacably opposed to God’s kingdom, is actually validating your work. Accordingly, ask the Spirit, God’s very Presence living in you, to strengthen you to do the work he calls you to do and give thanks for the wondrous opportunity you have been given in Christ.

One thought on “How God’s Kingdom Comes

  1. I like that you’re often talking about the future and the eternal hope we have in Jesus.

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