It has been some time since I bothered to share my
thoughts with a blog post. It has been so long, that it took me several
minutes to remember the name of this website! All things have seasons and
I suppose I was in a non-blog writing season. I am not troubled in the least
by this. I have had several concepts of late that I have desired to share
with any blog readers out there. So as suddenly as a rainstorm hits the
dry wearied ground, I find myself writing again. It is a welcomed friend.
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The anticipated second return of Christ and the
gift of Christmas has been heavy on my mind. After all, during Christmas
we celebrate the coming of Jesus into this world as a small babe; proof once
and for all that God cares immensely for humanity. (I can appreciate
ants...but I would seek to go to their level to save a single one; I prefer the
joys of being human.) Throughout the Christmas season, we sing songs of
joy, the promised peace on earth, and of course many exchange gifts with one
another. We talk of joy and peace but it really doesn't take a long
reading of the newspaper to realize we do NOT live in a peaceful world. No,
sadly even a cursory reading reveals not only the troubles of various nations
but our own cities and towns: A child at age 6 passes away from a deadly disease,
a body found recently by a dog walker in Madison, a young police officer is
gunned down by her own husband...a victim himself of the terrors and monsters
of war. If we take the joyous songs at face value, I would be tempted to
proclaim we do NOT live in a world of peace and joy and so these songs are
lies. After all, anyone who tells you that everything is sunshine and
roses is selling something, run away!
I find myself trying to have conversations that are
a bit deeper than the typical happenings of daily life with anyone who will
journey there with me. I find within others what I already know of
myself- there lies within the heart of man fears about what is to come, who
they are to be, the purpose of it all, and desperation to live life fully
followed by the struggle and difficulty of doing so. The failure to grasp
at life leads us to settle for cheap satisfactions and entertaining
distractions from things that truly matter. Where is the peace and joy? Is
it simply a lie we tell our children so they can have a fun season? By no
means.
Christ's life was not understood by the majority of
His day. They were looking for a King to free them politically, when
Christ came to proclaim the captives free of the spiritual bondage humanity was
under. His life and death ushered in a NEW reality, His Kingdom on
earth. His sacrifice made it possible for the impossible barrier between
men and God - the sin that kept unholy men away from a Holy God - to be lifted.
Christ at the perfect time, in the perfect way, restored relationship of
men to God by paying a debt no man could pay. In Christ's kingdom, men's
relationship with God is restored, a new people of promise were offered family
relationships with all the rights and responsibilities that being a part of a
family entails. They called themselves the Church, Christ's bride, a
people of God set a part to proclaim a New Kingdom. A kingdom unlike any
of man's kingdoms as this perfect kingdom offers peace and joy with Christ as
King. A kingdom that does not decay, change rulers, is worth more than
all the riches of men, and can be found by the simplest of small children. When
Christ left, he promised to return and with his return will bring the Fullness
of His Kingdom. How this will look, I cannot say but the Bible is clear,
He will return.
What Christ began by entering our time and our
world was an ushering of His new Kingdom. When He left, He left us the
most precious of all gifts - The Holy Spirit. The people who trust Christ
now who live post this glorious day are now kingdom people who are able to live
out of this kingdom grace. Kingdom people can have a close relationship
with God and others (Joy), a steady heart and mind are given (Peace), and
people are able to live with purpose as they pursue their part in the grand
story that God is telling. The kingdom is here and it is still to come.
Is a vow between two lovers any less
true despite their love not yet withstanding years of struggle? Not in
the least, but a love that withstands the test of time is both sweeter and
richer. It is possible for two lovers to be more in love on their 60th
anniversary as opposed to their first. Do not be mistaken; His kingdom
has come, though the fullness of His kingdom is not yet complete. Love
offered on a wedding day is not the end; it is only the beginning of two lives
becoming more and more one. The birth of Christ sparked joy in the
shepherd's that day because they had waited centuries for the promised one to
arrive. We are able to have joy and peace now because His Kingdom is here
and it is yet to come. The Holy Spirit can confirm all these things in
our hearts even when what we see is incredibly painful and dark. It is
possible to live in kingdom joy now.
"So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will
appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly
waiting for him" - Hebrews 9:28
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for
he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23
"When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to
him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." Mark 12:34a
"Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If
my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I
might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
John 18:36
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May the joy of the Lord and His glorious kingdom be
your strength and heart's cry as you enter into 2013.
