Those who have placed their faith in Christ are given the privilege of living under the authority and power of God's kingdom in the present; however, there is a forward looking dimension to the life of faith as well--an expectation of the consummation of God's kingdom when God's final judgment will be delivered. This reality begs the question: How are we then to live during this in-between time?
Here are two prescriptions for kingdom living to consider:
Prescription #1: Don't live in anxiety while awaiting the fulfillment of God's kingdom.
When Jesus taught about the fulfillment of the kingdom, he said to his disciples:
The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, "There he is!" or "Here he is!" Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. (Lk. 17:22-25)
The spiritual climate of the first century was filled with speculation and sensationalism regarding the coming of the Messiah. Theological fads and sensationalism--especially when dealing with the end-times/eschatology--have the tendency to breed an anxiety in people's hearts. Jesus warned his disciples to stay away from false teachers and false teaching surrounding the coming of the Messiah. God desires us as well to resist anxious thoughts and rather place our trust in the sovereignty of God's plan and timing regarding Christ's return. Anxiety is crippling precisely because it represents a failure to trust in God.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words about anxiety to the church in Philippi:
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)
I think it's interesting that Paul begins this section with the statement "The Lord is near." When we are anxious about something, we easily forget about the nearness of God's presence. We overlook Him. There have been several times in my life when I have misplaced something quite valuable and important. As the anxiety level increased in my body, I became increasingly "scattered" and unable to focus. Consequently, the item I was desperately searching for was actually right in front of me, but I was too stressed to see it. In a similar way, worry prevents us from seeing God's presence in the present!
Prescription #2: Don't live in the future while awaiting the fulfillment of God's kingdom.
Although we are called to live with an attitude of expectancy toward the future coming of Christ, we are also called to live fully in the present. Our anticipation should never prevent us from seeking God now, in this very moment. In the context of Jesus' teaching on the future fulfillment of the kingdom, he interjects the importance of living out God's mission in the present:
But he first must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. (Lk. 17:25)
The cross of Christ, which includes Jesus' suffering and death, represents a present reality for Jesus in this verse. Jesus couldn't experience the triumph of resurrection without enduring the cross. The consummation of the kingdom only comes as a result of the Messiah's obedience unto death--even death on a cross. Jesus knew that to obey the Father meant to obey every step to Calvary. Just think what would not have happened if Jesus wanted to somehow live in the triumphant future and skip the present mission before him. According to Luke, these things would not have taken place: teaching more parables, blessing little children, healing a blind man, calling a man named Zachaeus down from a sycamore tree, moving triumphantly into Jerusalem, celebrating the Last Supper/Passover with his disciples, etc.
Henri Nouwen writes these words about the importance of living fully in the present:
Patience is a hard discipline...Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later and somewhere else. Let's be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand.
May we all seize the opportunities that lie before us today--opportunities to glorify Christ through our thoughts, words, and actions....right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment