It's my only choice.
She's a student teacher.
I like jumbo shrimp.
We snicker at oxymorons, and perhaps the title of this article appears to be one, but in studying the Kingdom of God, we find we cannot always trust our senses. Jesus clearly defined His kingdom as one that is not like anything we find on earth:
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36)
Here's a clue, He seems to say. Do you see those under My authority coming to stop what is happening right now? And as scary and dark, unjust and painful as Jesus' crucifixion and the events surrounding were, He allowed what needed to be done for the sake of a kingdom greater than anything we see being constructed on earth. Talk about your oxymorons! A kingdom built by the death of its King. Glory and honor gained by lowliness and servanthood. Joy bursting forth from suffering, and prosperity birthed out of poverty. The Kingdom of God is not established in the physical, the earthly, the temporal; the Kingdom of God is established in the supernaturally real! Human beings humbled by their great deficit and rebellion, overwhelmed by the sufficiency of a Savior, surrendered and transformed by His Holy Spirit into people of His vision, His grace, His passion, and His character. In John 6:63, we read Jesus' words:
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
As believers, we are indwelt by the Spirit, which means we should be walking in imitation of the One who is Spirit. If we are indwelt by the Spirit but walking in the flesh, walking in imitation of the things of this world --self-preservation and aggrandizement, the pursuit of money, the estimation of family above anything, a conscience so warped by earthly standards we cannot clearly hear the voice of God --we won't bear fruit for the kingdom. When we walk in the flesh, we can be of no use to a supernatural, resurrectionary kingdom; we are at war with the Spirit in us. (Romans 8:1-14) We are, as our pastor so eloquently put it, "feeling the death pangs because we are fighting against the life in us."
The inhabitants of the Kingdom of God are characterized by a life of grace in a society of cruelty and greed; unity among brethren in a world that sows discord; honor and integrity when it appears of no earthly profit; forgiveness, gentleness, and peace when others seek strength in vengefulness, coarseness, and turmoil; fellowship with and encouragement toward those we find difficult or different; self-less-ness in selfie-driven places; an eye to the eternal in which is grounded a magnitude and purity of hope the terrestrial cannot possibly generate, a hope we long to share with the world at large; and love for our Redeemer and all members of His creation. This becomes possible when we are directed by and obey the Holy Spirit. Supernaturally we are empowered to walk in things that are eternal, things that are life, things that are real.
Let me take just another moment. The credit card or the dollar in your wallet. Does it possess any value at all? What do you think that little piece of plastic or paper is truly worth? It is a representation of something larger, buying power. The physical realm in which we currently exist, the bodies we inhabit, are a foretaste, a representation of a kingdom much greater. This is not the endgame; this is not the reality. I mean, if this world is all that is real, if there is nothing after this, why practice any type of restraint whatsoever? And what manner of restraint; on what are our standards based; what is our moral compass? But if there is more, if this world is simply an imperfect inclination toward a perfect eternal kingdom, are we assuming the characteristics of its inhabitants? Are we praying and working for its glory to be manifested here on earth? Are we assured that with God all things are possible? Are we powered by His strength for His service? Are we, by rigorously training and working as ambassadors of our King and compelled by love, prepared and preparing others for the fullness of a kingdom that is eternal in length and nature? Are we citizens of the ground under our feet, or are we citizens of the supernaturally real kingdom of God?
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