Understanding the Kingdom of God
We always run into problems when we try to align the kingdom of God with our national, racial, cultural, or political ideologies. It is not the same thing. It does not compare. Jesus said to Pilate that he came into the world to testify to the truth, and that everyone who belongs to the truth listens to his voice. Jesus’s kingdom is none other than the truth of God, which unmasks all of the lies, distortions, and corruptions of sin in this world. That’s why it undermines every other earthly kingdom. His battle is one of drawing to himself hearts, minds, and wills that have gone astray from the truth.
Common Ground of Humanity
These basic human characteristics—our hearts, minds, and wills—we all have them, regardless of where you live, your culture, race, nationality, or political ideology. Hearts, minds, and wills are common to us all. Jesus’s kingdom is recognized by its witness to the truth that the one true and living God has indeed come to live among his human creatures. By that action, he has come to redeem us, save us, restore us in our relationship with God, save us from ourselves, and save us from our sin. As we look back in hindsight, and as we look around us in the present, the point, friends, is that God’s kingdom rule is already present. It is already at work in our midst. It is both present and coming into being if we only have eyes to see it.
The Treasure of the Kingdom
As I thought about this, I was reminded of the parables of the kingdom, the 13th chapter of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field, which someone finds and hides, then goes and buys that whole field. Or a merchant in search of fine pearls discovers one of great value and sells everything to buy it. In both instances, they sell all they have to obtain it and make sure not to lose this treasure they have found. In other words, there’s nothing more important or valuable on this earth than discovering the truth that the kingdom of God is present and coming into this world through Jesus Christ.
The Awakening
Being awakened to the reality that God’s kingdom is present and at work among us is like waking up from a deep sleep. You don’t even know you’ve fallen asleep until someone nudges you, and then you realize, “Oh, I fell asleep.” Awakening to the reality of the kingdom of God and his rule in our lives is like that, and there’s nothing of greater value in this life than that discovery. From that point forward, you don’t have to walk around like a zombie. You may indeed listen to Jesus’s voice, follow him as the way, the truth, and the life, and live from that point onward in loving service to God and one another.
Anticipation of Advent
When we get to Advent, the message is to keep awake and alert. Let us not fall asleep in lives apart from the truth of Christ. Over our diocese, we have been engaged in the process called “cast the net” based on Jesus’s post-resurrection appearance in John’s gospel. This requires the renewal of our spirituality—you cannot give what you do not have or lead where you have not gone. As the season of Advent approaches, I encourage you to join us for spiritual renewal opportunities.
Recognizing God’s Kingdom
Wherever you see the people of God commit to the daily renewal of their spiritual lives, study scripture, read, pray, sing, and share their faith, there you will catch a glimpse of God’s kingdom in those small things. What we celebrate at Christmas, the birth of our Savior, was known to only a few, yet God was at work quietly, powerfully changing history. His rule of truth and salvation is here, coming more into being. May God grant us grace to pass through the temporal to not lose the eternal kingdom.