What are you looking forward to when God’s kingdom arrives? I’m looking forward to peace – peace in every aspect of life. I’m looking forward to the absence of any sin – no arguments and fighting over ideas and property. I’m looking forward to being together as one fully believing congregation of people where we will no longer be divided by gender, social status or ideology. I am looking forward to being with the Lord in His kingdom.
If there’s flowers and veg gardens, I’ll be looking forward to pain free, pest free gardening. I’ll be looking forward to using my gifts and abilities unencumbered by time and expectations of other people. What about you?
But there is this amazing truth that the Lord reminds us of today. We are in a change, a transition between with and without the kingdom of God. This world as we know it is changing. The Lord says: It is passing away! God’s Kingdom is on the way. In fact, as baptised people of God we are already experiencing life in His kingdom.
So I start to wonder: what is it that holds us back from what we are looking forward to in the Kingdom of God. What peace are we anticipating that could be our right now? What gift could we be exercising right now? What delight is already there in our gardens, in our gifts and abilities? Do we have to argue, or can we forgive each other our differences and simply do as Jesus does: Forgive!
Let’s live in the Kingdom now and not in fear of the changing seasons of life.