Jesus once said, "My kingdom is not of this world." And at the end of time He says to His righteous ones, "Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
So, he prepared for us a kingdom that is not of this world, and His own kingdom is not of this world. ...but He did make the world. Why?
The bible says in several places that this world is passing away... in one moment the heavens and earth will cease to exist. So, He only intended for them to be temporary. Like a temporary structure used only until the intended structure is complete. (by the way... WOW! this is an amazing universe to only be scaffolding!)
So the big Question is that if this world is temporary, and if our inheritance doesn't even have anything to do with it, then what are we doing here?
He made a temporary, finite world, and placed man in it- man who would eventually inherit a kingdom not of this world, but of the infinite world of Heaven. My growing belief is that the purpose of the world is that its the finite, temporary place for Satan to bear the fruit of his evil thoughts. We, beloved by God, are horribly the chief recipients , and vehicles, of those deceptions. But those who live in faith in the Creator, and in His Christ will prove the perfect wisdom and knowledge and power of God over all of that.
Godly wisdom like "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...
As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." -Matt 25:35
- All the best lies of Satan in this world can't come close to the goodness and freedom of the true nature of God.
POSTSCRIPT: I think its interesting that He refers to "these, My brothers" Jesus calls those who believe in Him His brothers... He is the first born of many brothers... He's talking here about ministering to believers. Naked, thirsty, sick imprisoned believers. I'm challenged by this. There are so many in this corrupted world who are putting their faith in Christ and suffering for it.
VOM
3 comments:
Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven...
If this earth is to pass away, what does it mean, then, that the meek share inherit the earth?
I've thought about that question all week- seems like a raw deal if it's just gonna pass away... Maybe the emphasis is on the word inherit. What everyone so eagerly strives for- will come as easily as an inheritance to the gentle, the meek. That passage is from Matt 5 where Jesus was talking about what its like being in the kingdom of God- and how each cross the believer bears has its reward. Those who mourn are comforted, the merciful will receive mercy, the pure in heart will see God... So maybe even though this is all passing away, there's a freely given piece of it for the meek. But of course, I'm just a programmer.
Post a Comment