Now and not yet
The Kingdom of God comes as we go, and these reflections might help you on that journey
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There have been some unusual contrasts in the last couple of years. With less human movement and traffic, there was less pollution, which caused some journalists to report that the seas became clearer, and that the world vibrated less. One might think that all was well with the world, but it was at a time when thousands of people lost their lives, as the world was thrust into a global pandemic, the ramifications of which will be felt for decades to come according to the WHO.
It has been such a strange tension and every generation has something (and often more than one thing) that is corporately challenging and difficult, not to mention the personal struggles that people have to endure as well. All of it reminds us that we’re living in a fallen and broken creation. Our human experience is not as God originally intended it and made it.
“...while we live in these times of brokenness, we can expect to see glimpses of the Kingdom breaking out in our midst...”
The good news of course is that Jesus has made a way for creation to be restored. The process that leads to an unfolding and ‘new creation’ has begun. The bible says 'If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation’ (2 Cor 5.17). The Kingdom of God is here. Jesus is transforming lives and there’s healing and worship and salvation.
The global Church community gives a window into what life in the Kingdom can look and feel like, but there is still tension, there is still brokenness. Pain and sin are still part of our experience, but the difference is that when we were without God and without hope in the world (Eph 2.12), there is now new hope, because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16.33).
I am reminded of Jesus’ compassion for the people he saw around him. They were 'harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd’ (Matt 9.36). What I love about that is:
Jesus is with us - He didn’t leave us on our own. As the good shepherd, Jesus cares for us, protects us, provides for us. He invites us to walk with him. He helps us when we are in need, and so we remember that Jesus is with us by his Spirit, but we're also praying ‘Your Kingdom Come’. We’re longing for Jesus to return and restore all creation and take his rightful place where ‘every knee will bow’ (Phil 2).
Jesus leads us - The bible says that Jesus is the 'good shepherd’. He leads us and guides us. We can ask him for wisdom (James 1), we can come with confidence before the throne of grace (Heb 4), and while we live in these times of brokenness, we can expect to see glimpses of the Kingdom breaking out in our midst even though we ‘see as through a glass darkly’ (1 Cor 13.12).
So what does this all mean for us in our different spheres of influence, scattered across society, Monday to Sunday?
1.Plug into a local church
This is one of the most important things a Christian can do if they want to grow in their faith. This isn’t an optional extra or an add-on in discipleship. If you follow Jesus and are baptised, you are part of the body of Christ so why wouldn’t we live that out in practise. At a Stronger conference we polled everyone and asked who was plugged into a local church. Of all those who responded, 100% said they were. If you’re currently not in a church on an ongoing basis (beyond that you have simply moved house, or trying to find a church), then I would encourage you to get involved as soon as you can. The church of England have produced this brilliant platform that enables you to find your local church. Just plug in your postcode and see what comes up.
2.Remind yourself of what’s true
Perhaps this is what Paul meant when he wrote, ‘we live by faith, not by sight’ (2 Cor 5.7) and it can be so easy to live by sight and focus only on the brokenness of the world and forget the bigger picture that Jesus is alive and that there is hope. Reading the bible is a key way of reminding ourselves of what’s true. How is that going for you? If you’re consistently not reading the bible on a regular basis I would encourage you to do all you can to make some changes so that you are. Find a daily reading plan like this one or start forming a habit or reading by reading a chapter or a bit of a chapter of Mark’s gospel each day.
3.Step out in faith
Jesus has given us a powerful prayer that begins ‘Our Father in heaven’ and continues ‘Your Kingdom come’. Not only does God’s Kingdom come more and more as we pray, but it also comes through our words and our actions as we go. This is how Eugene Peterson puts it in the Message translation of the bible: ‘Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth’ (Matt 5.13). As you step out in faith today with whatever God has given you to steward, in the contexts God has called you to live, expect his Kingdom to come as you go.
