Kingdom Perspective (6)

But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11.16

The far horizon
The Kingdom of God is not like earthly kingdoms. It’s not so much a place as a domain, a sphere or arena of spiritual power that operates to bring to light the glory of God and the Good News of Jesus Christ.

And as earthly kingdoms are static and geographically situated in a particular place and time, the Kingdom of God is fluid, flowing and progressing and advancing over all the earth, moving ineluctably like a mighty, growing river toward its destination in eternity.

When you make the Kingdom turn, therefore, don’t think you can just settle down in some comfy spiritual neighborhood of your choice in a static, temporary realm. Rather, understand that you have launched your little boat onto the river of grace and truth, and you must hoist your sails into the wind of the Holy Spirit on a voyage unto the eternal City to Come. In this life we are buoyed up and blown forward by the Spirit working with God’s Word, and we are navigating toward the far horizon, just beyond which we see the radiant glow of the new heavens and new earth.

The journey of faith
What are the implications of this for our daily walk with the Lord? How should the idea of the Kingdom as a journey or voyage of the here-and-now unto the yet-to-come affect our everyday relationships, roles, and responsibilities?

I think a good many of the followers of Jesus Christ are taking the wrong approach to life in the here and now. Rather than focus on the City to Come, and preparing themselves for arrival there, they tend to get bogged down in the details, diversions, and distractions of the here and now. The result is that they end up living under their circumstances rather than over and above them in an ongoing voyage to the distant shore.

Many Christian leaders have written about this idea of life as a journey. Columbanus, John Bunyan, and Jonathan Edwards come immediately to mind. Together they offer sound advice about what is involved in having a Kingdom perspective on daily life, one that sees everything as moving toward the City to Come.

Let’s consider a few of these.

Aspect of the journey
First, we have to say to ourselves, over and over, “This life, here and now, is not the life that matters first.” This life matters, of course. We have to eat, drink, work, relate, and all the rest. But all our daily activities can become a grind and a drudgery if we see them as ends in themselves, or as means to merely temporal ends. When we see them as means to the end of the Kingdom, they take on a new significance, a new excitement, and new meaning.

If we’re working with a view to the City to Come, for example – no matter the work we do – then we’ll want that work to reflect the priorities and traits of the eternal City: God’s glory, love for our neighbors, excellence in all things, and so forth. Keeping the eye of your heart fixed on Christ and your seat with Him will affect everything you do, giving your life an eternal glow reflecting the hope that is within you because of radiant promise toward which you are journeying.

Second, beware of anything that can cause you to lose sight of your destination and lead you into becalmed waters or stormy seas. Keep your eye on the charts – the Word of God. They’re clearly marked as to where dangers of sin lurk beneath the attractive waters of the world. Guard your heart and your mind with the peace of Jesus, and He will surround you and keep you on course in your journey (Phil. 4.6, 7).

Finally, seek the advice of wise counselors, and follow the example of those voyagers who have gone before you, to live your life after the pattern presented in theirs. We’re surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12.1), and the more we know about them, the more their example can help us to navigate the dangerous shoals of worldly existence.

In the Kingdom our lives are on the move at all times, filled with the wind of the Spirit and riding on the grace and truth of the river of God. Keep your vessel situated there, and well-trimmed, and you’ll realize more of the eternal then-and-there in the everyday here-and-now of your life.

Next steps: Have any Christians inspired you in your walk with the Lord? How? Share your thoughts with another believer.

T. M. Moore
Additional Resources

This week’s study, Kingdom Perspective, is the second of an eight-part series on The Kingdom Turn, and is available as a free download. T. M. has written two books to complement this eight-part series. You can order The Kingship of Jesus by clicking here, and The Gospel of the Kingdom by clicking here.

Sign up for ViewPoint Leaders Training, free and online, and start your own ViewPoint discussion group.

Want to learn more about the Celtic Revival? Visit our website and sign-up for our thrice-weekly devotional, Crosfigell.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.