Friday, September 10, 2010

What Kind of Kingdom is this?

Luke was a Gentile in love with Jesus Christ. With that in mind I am rereading his Gospel. What drew his attention? What excited him so much about his Jesus?

As I read I saw he used the phrase, "The Kingdom of God," more than forty times! Luke also saw the believers as children of their Heavenly Father, a family of love and unity. But he was intrigued by the center phrase of Jesus' prayer, "Thy kingdom come on earth as in heaven."

I began to ponder this Kingdom. It take some doing to think of a world-view that defines a kingdom as having no borders, no common culture, no army, no Parliament, no courts, no common language or culture, no man-made Constitution, no book on parliamentary procedures, a kingdom in which the greater serve the least, in which enemies are loved, not destroyed, where forgiveness, humility and heart-felt love are the prime virtues and where faith in the Lord Jesus Christ make all things possible.

This is a strange kingdom where the King, instead of asking his subjects to die for him, leaves his throne and dies himself, on the Cross, so that they can be near him now and forever. Our King wears a crown of thorns. He reigns in grace and truth.

This morning I see in my mind's eye this amazing Kingdom spread across our planet. I have had the privilege of getting to know brothers and sisters in more cultures than I can count. They have the same stamp on them, they are citizens of the Kingdom of God, as I, by grace, am. That is our nation. That is our "land." That is the most dramatic display of God's grace imaginable - a new thing that spreads and flourishes by the power of the Holy Spirit alone.

Thank you, Dr. Luke, for introducing us to the essence of Jesus' Kingdom that continues to amaze and thrill.