By Pastor Greg
Every one of us in this place is aging. Some of us are aging in leaps and bounds. Others are aging slowly. But the truth is, we are all heading downhill, so to speak. We are all on a journey from this life to the next. So I thought I would give you a test this morning just to see how you are making out in the meantime; just to help you recognize some of the signs that indicate you’re slowing down a bit.
1. What do you put in a toaster?
2. Say "silk" five times. Now spell "silk." What do cows drink?
3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a greenhouse made from?
4. If the hour hand on a clock moves 1/60 of a degree every minute then how many degrees will the hour hand move in one hour?
5. Without using a calculator - You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales. In London, 17 people get on the bus. In Reading, six people get off the bus and nine people get on. In Swindon, two people get off and four get on. In Cardiff, 11 people get off and 16 people get on. In Swansea, three people get off and five people get on. In Carmathen, six people get off and three get on. You then arrive at Milford Haven. What was the name of the bus driver?
If these simple questions were difficult for you, I regret to tell you this, but, you may not be too far from the Kingdom of God. Really? You said that cows drink milk?
Truthfully, none of us are far from the Kingdom of God. It is much closer than we think. As I pointed out last week, the Kingdom of God (or the Kingdom of Heaven) is not just some distant place that awaits us one day in the future. According to Jesus, the Kingdom of God is among you. And as Jesus talks about the Kingdom of heaven, He describes a place that we can see and possess right here and right now. He describes the Kingdom in ways that not only comfort but challenge us as well.
Take all the passages of scripture that talk about the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God and you will find that it is something we can see right now by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3) and by Christ’s power over Satan (Matthew 12:28). We know the Kingdom is real because of the Spirit within us (Matthew 13:11). We possess the Kingdom by grace (Matthew 18:23-27), by humility (Matthew 5:3, Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 19:14), by faith (Luke 9:59-62), and through trials (Matthew 5:10). We enter the Kingdom by living out our faith (Matthew 7:21, Matthew 21:31), by getting our priorities in order (Matthew 19:23-24), and by living a life filled with holiness (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 5:5). The Kingdom of heaven is not just a present attitude (Matthew 10:7, Luke 17:20-21, Mark 12:34, Romans 14:17), but is also a future place (Matthew 8:10-12, Luke 21:31, Mark 14:25). And in the Kingdom of Heaven some will be greater because of their obedience (Matthew 5:20, Matthew 11:11), and others because of their faith (Matthew 21:31). We also learn that the Kingdom of heaven can be lost because of faithlessness (Matthew 21:43), or simply because of rejection (Matthew 22:2-3, Matthew 23:13).
Jesus describes the Kingdom of heaven as a place filled with grace and tenderness (Mathew 13:24), a place whose significance will be revealed in due time (Matthew 13:31). He says that the Kingdom of Heaven not only changes a believer, but will also change the world (Matthew 13:33). In the Kingdom of Heaven, people are valued (Mathew 13:44-45). One day, the Kingdom of Heaven will be purged of all evil (Matthew 13:47-48). And our service to the Kingdom will be rewarded, no matter how insignificant it may have seemed (Matthew 20:1).
The Kingdom of God is not just a Spiritual attitude found in Christians, but a place where one day we will be in fellowship with God. Because of our relationship with Jesus, one day we will gather with other believers to worship our Savior face to face. And all that is of this world; the lies, the hurt, the sickness, the pain, the regrets; all things of this world will pass away. And you and I will be pure and blameless at last. We will gather at a great banquet table and enjoy unrestrained fellowship with God. But that day, that part of God’s Kingdom, we will enjoy one day in the future. Until then; until the perishable will put on the imperishable, we must remain faithful and diligent. Until then “my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). We are part of God’s Kingdom today. And it is a Kingdom seen by our faith, by the Spirit; by our attitude, our faithfulness, and our diligence.
We are Citizens of Heaven, my friend. We are the Pearl of Great Price. We have been purchased by the blood of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And we have been promised an inheritance. “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5).
As Christians, we look forward to the Physical Kingdom of God. And that day will come. This we have been promised. But in the meantime we live as Children of the Kingdom in this world with our pain and hurts and sadness and suffering. Today we see the Kingdom of God through Spiritual eyes and with hearts of faith. But one day we will see it face to face. As Peter has reminded us, “For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering”. Romans 8:16-17). And our suffering is to be in this world yet not part of this world.
We have been asked to endure living in a world filled with counterfeit Christians (see the Parable of the Tares in Matthew 13:24-30). We have been asked to endure hardships and suffering for the time being. Peter call us, “Temporary residents and foreigners” (1 Peter 2:11). So, because we are citizens of Heaven we find this waiting and enduring difficult. We suffer in the flesh for the time being because we know that this world is not our home. But do not let the current condition of things diminish your hope. Do not be discouraged. Do not be moved. Remain steadfast and immovable. Draw strength from God and from one another. Keep your eyes fixed on the Kingdom and upon Jesus Christ for the journey home.
Oh, I almost forgot the answers! 1 – Bread. 2 – Water. 3 – Glass. 4 – One degree 5 – Your Name!
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