Monthly Archives: April 2016

Longing for the Kingdom

I’m really excited to see the reality of the kingdom of heaven. I know that for many, the kingdom has begun, and that’s true – Jesus has come, and he’s finished his work.

But that’s all entwined in faith. I’m really eager for faith not to be needed anymore. For us to see, to experience in vivid technicolor, the reality of the kingdom of heaven.

I think too often we focus on us getting there (admittedly important) rather than on what it will be like. That’s why I so appreciate Jesus as he starts the Sermon on the Mount. He gives this really amazing description of what the kingdom is. And it stokes my longing.

He turns to different unnamed, impersonal groups. And he calls them blessed. Because of what the kingdom is like. And as we hear about these groups, we start to understand… he’s revealing what the kingdom of heaven is. Not in terms of gold pavement or translucent buildings. But in terms of qualities. And it is fantastic.

Walk with me; let your heart long. Because the kingdom, it comes, surely as Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This incredible kingdom will be given, not earned. It is for the spiritually bankrupt, which means that no currency will buy your way in. It is a space-time manifestation of the grace of God.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” The kingdom is a place of comfort. If you grieve, if this is what afflicts you, you are fortunate. Comfort comes.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The kingdom of heaven, established on earth, will not be won with power. If you are powerless, rejoice. You are blessed. You won’t need power to be in this incredible kingdom. The power of another suffices.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” I love this. The kingdom comes; righteousness will abound. If you hunger for it, you are fortunate, because the kingdom is a place of rightness.

I could go on. It is a place of purity, total transparency; a place of peace, so much so that those who are about peace are called sons of God; a place where wrongs are made right, where justice prevails.

I am so prone to make everything about me. So Jesus’ words of blessing are easily warped by me and others to be a list of ethical demands to enter the kingdom. I don’t think they are, though. I think they are a beautiful picture of what our kingdom is. A portrait of a reality that is coming.

I say “our kingdom” because I hope if you’re reading this that you have the righteousness that matters. Because Jesus suddenly changes pronouns in the beatitudes. The last beatitude (Matt. 5:11) is suddenly about the disciples. And about Jesus. He says how fortunate, not when you are persecuted for your righteousness… but when you are persecuted for Jesus’ sake. That’s because the kingdom of heaven is a place where Jesus is our righteousness.

Faith will become sight. But it is by faith we get there. Faith not in our achievement. Faith in Jesus, in all that he has done for us. In all that he has promised.

He’s good for it. And it is beautiful. I can’t wait.