In recent weeks we have been investigating the “big picture” of the Eternal Purpose of God, as revealed to us in the Scriptures. His Purpose begins with 1.) creation of the earth, 2.) creation of man to rule over it, 3.) man’s fall into sin, and then 4.) man’s redemption by the birth,, life, death, resurrection, and ascent into heaven of Jesus Christ. This Eternal Purpose continues with this mind-blowing revelation:
God, “…even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5, 6).
We cannot understand these verses; they are way beyond our pay-grade. As little children we can only say, “Yes, Daddy. You are telling me that I can be alive, consciously, here on the earth, while simultaneously being in Jesus, seated at Your right hand, ruling over the earth”. I can’t understand that, but I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT IT IS TRUE, so, FOR ME, IT IS TRUE! I believe our Ship of the Kingdom diagram illustrates what happens next.
Notice in the diagram, after the Ascension, GOD THE FATHER GIVES JESUS THE KINGDOM of the earth, making Him “King of kings.” Ten days later at Pentecost, and pictured by the three vertical lines from Jesus flowing down, JESUS DELEGATED THAT KINGDOM TO US. Our spirits are seated in Jesus at God’s right hand, but our souls still remain in decaying bodies on the earth. It is through these dying bodies that we, Jesus’ vice-regents, are attacking the Gates of Hell and ruling over the earth↾—for King Jesus!
The diagram shows us that Jesus’ delegation of the Kingdom to us flows down three paths to our three weapons that we will use as we rule. There will be others, but these three are the established institutions in which His rule is anchored and the vast majority of us are all involved
These institutions all have the same three characteristics: the RESPOSIBILITY to extend the Kingdom in and through that particular institution, the AUTHORITY to act biblically to fulfill that Responsibility, and, ultimately, ACCOUNTABILITY to Jesus, who delegates it. Each institution is unique as to how it’s characteristics are applied, as we will see in subsequent postings. Responsibility, authority and accountability are all essential, irreplaceable characteristics of the Kingdom of God.
This posting is obviously an attempt to step back, raise our vision past the individual trees of our own lives, and see the vast forest of God’s Eternal Purpose in which our own trees are located. Assuring that the individual trees are all healthy and growing is important, and it seems to be the exclusive concern of most churches, but that does not help us to understand our very reason for existence. I believe that understanding this is crucial.
And God’s Word agrees: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). “Para” is the Hebrew word here for “perish,” which means “to loosen, expose, or dismiss.” I believe this means to ignore or dismiss any pursuit of a purpose in life.
You may remember the illustration of the two ditch diggers at a construction site. It is a beautiful illustration of this verse. One digger is frowning, grumbling and gritching while he’s digging, frequently checking his watch. The other one is smiling, whistling and singing happily as he digs. When asked what they are doing, the first one mumbles, “I’m just digging a damn ditch!” The other one, with a huge smile, looks up and says, “I’m building a cathedral!” THAT IS VISION THAT BRINGS THE DIVINE LIFE OF GOD”S KINGDOM TO THAT PLACE, the ditch!
Tomorrow I have one of my infrequent opportunities (because of my lack of strength and mobility) to interact with people out in the world. I have an appointment to have my blood viscosity checked at a Pharmacotherapy Clinic, something I do every three weeks or so. I call it my “finger-prick appointment.” There is an assistant who will check me in who is a natural, spontaneous, unconscious (NSU) Kingdom Extender in spades. He will welcome my wife Jill and me when we arrive with a huge smile as we walk in the door, calling me “Coach.” After we are seated, he will come out from behind the desk where he sits and talk to us, often talking about what he knows to be one of my favorite topics, football. When we leave after our appointment , he will sometimes walk Jill and me out to our car, helping me navigate the stairs and the car door, all the while happily carrying on a lively conversation.
My appointment is with a Pharmacist, who is a jewel! She is equally as friendly, and Jill and I have become good friends with her. She has two young daughters whom we ask about on our visit. We talk our heads off during the 15 minute blood-check appointment, and hug each other as we leave.
My chiropractor and skin doctor are both long-time Christians whose offices reflect the Kingdom in similar ways, both also NSU. When you go into their offices, you know that the atmosphere and climate are different. The interest, personal involvement and eagerness to serve by both doctor and nurses is an indication that Jesus is there, living through them, bringing His Kingdom to that place, just as He does at the Pharmacotherapy Clinic.
During the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey he went to Thessalonica, the leading city in Macedonia, present day Greece, and a church sprang up there. After a few years Paul wrote them a letter which includes the following excerpt: “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). God is still doing that today, in the same NSU way
Can you see it? Yes, in answer to our question in our blog title, WE”VE GOT THE KINGDOM TODAY! It is growing, like leaven in a lump of dough—quietly, often imperceptively, but relentlessly! It cannot be stopped. May we raise our spiritual eyes to see this beautiful forest in which we live as we, NSU, with joy, attack the gates of Hell!
