storiesofvalue

Kingdom by Choice

Some kingdom citizenships are bestowed by nature.  An elephant is a part of the animal kingdom, and unless scientists create a new system of classification during his life, he will die a citizen.  The same is true for citizens in the plant kingdom and, to a degree, humans who are born into kingdom societies.

Of course, the inclusion of anyone or anything into a kingdom is dependent on a ruler.  Someone with academic authority had to declare there was such a thing as an animal and plant kingdom, and every kingdom society has its roots in a government that formed to assert its will on others.

I have considered whether this principle is true in the spiritual realm.  If God is the Divine Ruler, is not everything and everyone a part of His kingdom?  This question is not simple to answer, and any answer will leave some unsatisfied due to differences of opinion regarding human nature and one’s general and specific definitions of “reign.”

It might be said that all humans are born into the kingdom of God.  God asserts Himself in the womb where He “knits us together” (Psalm 139:13).  When some people brought children to be blessed by Jesus, and His disciples tried to chase them away, Jesus protested.  He said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

I realize there are issues here relating to the first sin in the Garden of Eden and its effect on the human race.  I personally do not believe children are born bearing the guilt of Adam and Eve’s sin, though they do have a tainted nature, prone to sin.  This leaves us to debate whether we are born into God’s kingdom, only to dissolve our citizenship when we willfully sin, or are born outside of God’s reign.

While you chew on this dilemma, let’s move on.  At some point, it appears we are outside of God’s kingdom, entrapped by Satan as a result of sin.  Sin is our declaration of independence from our Creator.  It leads us into darkness where we experience spiritual isolation and defeat.

The good news is God has not abandoned us, but rather comes for us in the person of His Son Jesus.  Like the shepherd with ninety-nine sheep at home (Luke 15), He leaves them to find us and carries us home on His shoulders.  Jesus paid our debt of sin on the cross, satisfied the payment of our rebellion, and made it possible for us to claim citizenship with God.  “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14)

This brings us to the “choice” part of our citizenship.  Regardless of our nature at birth, eventually our own sinfulness will lead us away from God’s authority and outside of His kingdom.  However, even in this unfortunate state, we can appeal to the grace offered through Jesus and find rescue.  This is redemption: that sin would not have the final word in our lives, but rather that we might be brought into God’s kingdom to enjoy all of the benefits of His reign.

This doesn’t mean the only people who benefit from the kingdom of God are its citizens.  If we live as we should, there will be a kingdom effect present in our homes, workplaces and communities.  Did you know you are like a small piece of God’s kingdom wherever you go?  Wherever you live, work and play, the banner of the kingdom flies over you.  No, you don’t have to wear a uniform or sew an insignia on your clothes to let people know you are a kingdom citizen.  You can if you want, but I would not recommend it.  Rather, your life will be your uniform and your words and actions your insignia.

There is a sense in which God has already chosen us to be citizens of His kingdom.  His offer to step into His light is for everyone, and He has paved the way through the gift of Jesus.  But in His wisdom God has also willed that we have a choice.  It may seem trite to say we can “take it or leave it”, but this is, in reality, where we stand.  God hopes we will accept His offer because His heart breaks over lost sinners.  Yet, He will not impose citizenship on anyone.

Therefore, we must decide.  I hope you choose or have chosen to be a part of God kingdom.  Not only it is the place to be, but the thought anyone would miss out on God’s blessings hurts me.  I know it hurts God much more.

Kingdom Intelligence

Good intelligence has always been critical to a nation’s success.  When Israel first arrived on the outskirts of Canaan, Moses sent twelve men on a mission to spy out the land.  They returned with two major observations: the land was flowing with milk and honey, and its cities were well fortified and inhabited by large, powerful people (Numbers 13:27-28).  Unfortunately, ten of the spies emphasized the latter over the former, and although the two remaining spies were confident God would give them the land, the hearts of the people melted.

Perhaps I should say, it is not only important to have intelligence, but also to know how to correctly discern that intelligence.  Kingdom intelligence is no different.

In the world of theology, the word for the intelligence used to defend the Christian faith is “apologetics.”  This field of study comes from the Greek word, “apologia”, which refers to a “verbal defense.”  Apologetics is not a blind acceptance of the axiom “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it,” but rather a reasonable defense based on a variety of disciplines.  A worthy defense of the Christian faith requires an understanding of such things as linguistics, biblical authority, archeology, scientific discovery and logic.  Please don’t misunderstand me.  Faith in Christ, without the ability to defend it, may be all we need for salvation.  However, if we hope to reach a world that rejects the Bible and any notion of absolute truth, we must not only know what we believe, but understand the basis for our belief.  There might also come a time when we will need to draw on apologetics to heal our own faith when it is shaken by a crisis.

A worthy defense of the Christian faith involves diligent study, but it also requires a consistent witness.  It doesn’t do much good to win an argument for Christ if we lose our audience in the process.  Peter once wrote, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

The church is fortunate to have great minds that spend the majority of their time writing and speaking in defense of the Christian faith.  Perhaps you have read some of their works, or heard them speak.

In truth, most of the scholarly material sold and broadcast around Easter comes from a liberal bias (i.e. from those who neither believe the Bible to be true, or accept Jesus as Lord).  It may seem strange for someone to give his entire life to the examination of truths he rejects, but it makes more sense if we remember the old adage, “it’s a living.”  Some believe it is their job to refute other people’s faith.

An apologetic of the Christian faith begins with a study of the scriptures, and moves on to many of the disciplines already referenced.  It also presumes we have a Creator who has made it possible for us to know Him in order to deliver us from Satan’s bondage.

Apologetics are important for defending our beliefs, but they also impact our everyday lives.  What we believe ultimately affects how we act.  The legalism of the Pharisees led them to plan Jesus’ death.  The secularism of Pilate caused him to turn his back on justice, even as he asked “What is truth?”  (John 18:38)  And it was Jesus’ commitment to His mission that gave Him the courage to accept the cup of suffering awaiting Him on the cross (Matthew 26:39).

God reigns over His kingdom, and there isn’t a power on earth, or in the spiritual realm that can defeat Him.  But if we hope to expand the kingdom, and extend the influence of the cross, we must heed Peter’s advice.  We must acquire kingdom intelligence, or “apologetic” skills.   Our education will require hard work and wisdom, but it is worth the effort.  The souls of others depend on our ability to explain why we believe what we believe.  Depending on the obstacles Satan chooses to toss our way, so might ours.

Kingdom Area Code

Have you ever received a telemarketing call from an unknown number?  Is the moon round?

I am reluctant to answer phone calls from numbers I don’t recognize, and especially those from an out-of-state area code.  I figure if the call is important, the caller will leave a message.  I haven’t answered a call from my mother in Florida in years.  Just kidding Mom! (She receives these devotions).

When I don’t answer a phone call I am still worried it might be an emergency, so I check out the church data-base and make a few phone calls to assure myself this isn’t the case.  If I can’t figure things out I call the number…from another phone.

You would think I worked for NCIS, but I trust you understand.  I have been burned too often by unsolicited phone calls from strangers who leave me wondering if my personal safety has been compromised.

Is it any wonder we are reluctant to listen when God calls?  It isn’t that we don’t care what God thinks, but rather that we aren’t sure it is really Him.  What is the kingdom area code?  777?

There are plenty of people in our world who claim to have a word from God.  They tell us He has asked them to write us a letter.  I don’t understand how God speaks to many people through a form letter with mass-produced pamphlets advertising an investment opportunity.  I am also amazed that God seems to speak at tax-refund time.  How does He know?  Ok, He knows.  I’ll stop.

My point is I have become jaded when it comes to hearing from God.  It seems I am more inclined to assume I am being scammed, or misinformed long before I seriously consider God might actually be trying to get my attention.  If someone tells me the Lord asked them to speak to me, I instinctively prepare myself for a sales pitch.  If someone tells me I need to inspect some facet of my walk, I suspect they are projecting their own weaknesses.  And if I receive a letter from a Christian cause asking for funds, I jump on the Internet to check out the organization before I bother reading what the sender has to say.

I hope I haven’t disillusioned you, and I must admit I may have overstated my point.  Perhaps I should say that “sometimes” I behave in the way I have described here.

How then, do I recognize when God is calling?  My personal standard is His written Word.  In a letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  God has revealed His will through the authors of the Bible and validated its authority by inspiration.  Therefore, when God speaks through His Word, I answer.  I am not claiming to be perfect in my obedience, but I cannot dispute the truth.

God also calls me through the direction of other believers who have proven to be purely motivated and conscientious in pursuit of scripture.  Other believers can also err, but together we have the possibility of examining and discerning what God is teaching us in His Word.

As long as the Bible is my guide, I can filter through a lot of other spiritual advice.  I might even read something in a form letter that reminds me of a biblical principle I have been neglecting.  I am still not sure I will learn much from a telemarketer, but honestly, I can’t predict where God’s messages might come from.  They might come from a child, a homeless shelter, a hospital bed, or the man who sells me my caffeine in the morning.  As long as a truth is rooted in the Word of God it always has the potential of equipping me for a good work.

I wish all of God’s calls were clear, but I suspect they are clearer than I am willing to admit.  The truth is there if I am willing to answer.

Kingdom Addiction

I think I’m addicted to the kingdom, but I come by it honestly.  When I was a kid, everything was about the kingdom of God.  Please don’t misunderstand.  My parents didn’t make me go to church every time the doors were opened, and except for a little memory verse box on our kitchen table, I don’t remember a bunch of Christian pictures, symbols or nick-knacks around the house.

But the kingdom was at the center of everything.  We talked about kingdom people, cared for people who weren’t in the kingdom, and offered our very best to the kingdom.  When we were on vacation, we always attended worship with God’s people, and when I was sick on Sunday and couldn’t go to church we had a communion service at home.

Jane and I were married on Saturday, June 13, and on Sunday morning we attended worship at a church we had never visited in a small river town in Kentucky.  That night, on our way to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we stopped at a little country church near a highway exit.  The country church had a guest speaker and it was a little weird, but we enjoyed being with the Lord’s people.

After our children were born, we carried on the Jones tradition, locating churches in communities where we vacationed, from Marathon Key to Niagara Falls.  Some of the traditions we encountered were unique, and even entertaining, but we were always treated with love.  Our children were appreciated by their Sunday School teachers, and sometimes even received a card in the mail thanking them for their visit.

Things didn’t change when our children moved on with their lives.  When we were in Athens, Greece on a special vacation, we found a small orthodox church in the middle of an old neighborhood.  The priest arrived late, the members trickled in even later, and we didn’t understand a word that was spoken.  But people smiled and did their best to show us where to sit and how to participate.  One lady offered a kind farewell when we left.

I don’t believe my whole life needs to be wrapped up in religious practice, and no one else puts pressure on me to make the kingdom a priority.  I don’t even see it that way.  I just can’t get enough.  I love the diversity of the kingdom, the different ways we worship, serve and learn, and the transformation I see in people’s lives because of the gospel of Jesus.  I also love hearing about what kingdom people are doing in their workplaces, neighborhoods and communities.

Every Monday morning the church everywhere launches a kingdom invasion!  Kingdom surgeons enter operating rooms, kingdom teachers welcome their students, kingdom engineers solve problems, kingdom law officers keep the peace, kingdom clerks stock shelves, and kingdom military personnel preserve our freedom.  There are kingdom coaches, kingdom bankers, kingdom mechanics, and kingdom pilots.  The list goes on and on.  And it just adds to my addiction!  God is always doing something through His people, and He has invited us to join Him on the front lines.

Loving the kingdom doesn’t make me more spiritual.  It won’t get me to heaven any quicker.  And I admit, I have to make sure I don’t become one-dimensional and intentionally try to absorb as much information about the world as possible so I don’t become irrelevant.

Remember, this is just a confession.  I am addicted.  I hope you understand.

One Kingdom Reason

We love “why I…” lists.  Hardly a week goes by I don’t see a post on social media with five, ten or fifteen reasons why the views expressed are as good as gospel.  There is something about a list that empowers us, as if having more than one reason for our opinions makes us right.  And if we can link a scripture to our opinions, regardless of whether or not we have honored their original intent, then we assume God must agree with us.

Recently, I have become troubled by our obsession with lists because they are often used to bully others or destroy their work for the Lord.  They are laced with jealousy, petty legalism and selfish ambition.  I have never read a man-made opinion list that didn’t appear to be written to hurt another person or build up the author’s ego.

This doesn’t’ mean everything in a “why I…” list is wrong.  I merely find it interesting that we like to pass along human lists and forget the divine ones.  For example, there is the list of the seven things God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19.  The last item on the list is those who “stir up dissension among brothers.”  Did I say this is a list of the things God hates?  Of course, there are the Ten Commandments.  They include the warming against misusing the name of the Lord.  When I was a kid I was taught this meant we shouldn’t use God as a cuss word.  I think this rule still applies, but now I know God doesn’t want us to use his name to manipulate our environment.  He doesn’t want to be attached to our opinions to make them sound right.  He wants us to do what is right so His name will be honored.

There is Paul’s list of the things that remain: faith, hope and love, the greatest of which is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).  Add to this the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the list of evil practices  found in the same passage (sexual immorality, jealousy, dissention, fits of rage, selfish ambition, etc.).

One of the shortest and perhaps most important lists in the Bible is known as the “two greatest commandments”: to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).  But there is yet a shorter one: a “one kingdom reason” if you will.  Jesus said there is one way others will know we are His disciples.  They will see our love for one another (John 13:34).

Most of the lists I read that seem to be important to people today are not matters of salvation, but rather those of opinion.  If I read the Bible correctly, matters of opinion won’t keep anyone out of heaven, but things such as slander (Colossians 3:8) and a spirit of dissention (Romans 13:13) might.  If nothing else, God’s lists warn us against things that keep us from worshipping Him in spirit and in truth.  Jesus once said if we bring an offering to the altar and remember a disagreement with a brother, we should leave the offering, go make things right, then return (Matthew 5:23).  This is the same place where Jesus said our souls are in danger if we try to diminish the worth of a brother.

The lists we create can nurture self-righteousness if we aren’t careful, but God’s lists convict and transform.  I don’t pay much attention to man-made opinion lists anymore.  Anyway, I don’t suspect I am going to be held accountable for them when I get to heaven.  But I will be responsible for my obedience to God, and if I get the things He has said mixed up with the things others say, there isn’t a list in the world I will be able to use to justify my actions.

Kingdom Height Restrictions

Most theme parks have height restrictions.  Failure to consider how a child fits in a thrill ride can result in disaster.  Of course, most children see these rules as an infringement on their fun.  They think they are big enough.  Well, while I believe in the wisdom of a height restriction, I also think children are bigger than we think.

Sometimes I hear people refer to children as “the church of tomorrow.”  This is accurate if we are referring to the impact children will have in the kingdom when they reach adulthood.  The investment we make in children will certainly make the future church stronger.  For this reason, I understand the notion they are the “church of tomorrow.”

On the other hand, we must remember children who are “in Christ” are the “church of today.”  I am not talking about the grace I believe God extends to children who are not old enough to understand sin (the age of accountability).  I am thinking, rather, of children who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, professed Him, and identified with Him in baptism.

Once a child commits his or her life to Jesus, they become my spiritual brother or sister.  This doesn’t mean they must become adults in the way they think or act.  That would be a travesty!  But it does mean we are kingdom citizens together, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, and inhabited by the Holy Spirit.

This reality has a number of implications, but one in particular stands out to me: If children who have given their lives to Jesus have the Holy Spirit living in them, then they are already being transformed from the inside out.  And they don’t have a “kiddie spirit!”  The same Holy Spirit Jesus promised to His disciples in the Upper Room inhabits them.  They are convicted, comforted, counseled, and marked by the Spirit.

It is true, sometimes we miss it.  We lose sight of the Spirit in children when they race down the church hallway, hit their neighbor and snicker during people’s prayers.  I should point out I have seen adults do all of these things, and worse, but I understand the perception.  Because children are, well, childish, we can fail to take their faith seriously.  But when we do this, we err greatly.

In fact, we not only err, but we lose out.  When Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14), He was allowing children to speak to us.  There are few things as pure as a child’s love for Jesus. It is untainted by ego and presumption.  Children are still willing to be used by Jesus and have not yet learned how to use the name of Jesus to justify their personal whims.

So, should we recruit children to teach our adult classes and take on grown-up roles of spiritual leadership in the church?  No.  There is still great value in designing a ministry to children where children can learn to serve in a way that is age-appropriate.

But make no mistake.  If children are in Christ, the Holy Spirit is as active in their lives as He is in ours.  God is using them as powerfully as He is us.  And on occasion, children lead us when they cut through our grown-up baggage and share God’s unedited truth.

Jesus is the height restrictor for children.  Come to think of it, He is for all of us.  None of us come to the kingdom except through Him.  In spiritual terms, that’s when we all begin to grow up.

Kingdom Rights and Privileges

I used to wonder how my parents felt when I first drove away solo in the family car.  Then I watched my own children do the same, and I understood completely.  It wasn’t easy watching the ones my wife and I had poured over sixteen years of our lives into take off in a machine that represented almost half our year’s salary.

Alright, so those of you who know my taste in automobiles might accuse me of exaggerating a bit on the value of the cars.  Let’s just say this was their replacement cost.  My point is, with freedom comes considerable responsibility, and risk.

The freedom we experience in Christ is no different.  His grace washes us clean, and becomes the basis for a new ethic.  In the first church, this meant some of the Old Testament rules relating to ceremonial purity were no longer binding on believers, whether Jew or Greek.  If we bring this principle forward, it speaks to any controversial practice the Bible does not define as sin.

Where do our freedoms and another believers’ conscience meet?  The theological term for this subject is “Christian Liberty.”  Christian Liberty speaks to how we conduct ourselves around other believers who don’t share our personal opinions.

If a behavior isn’t prohibited by Christ, aren’t we free to participate?  Well, yes and no.  In 1 Corinthians 10:23 Paul writes, ‘“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful.  “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up (ESV).’  In other words, even though we have the right to do something because of our freedom in Christ, we might choose to forgo our right for the sake of a weaker brother or sister.

On the other hand, the apostle Paul also writes, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” (Colossians 2:16 NIV)  If we aren’t careful we will allow others to impose their opinions on us for no reason.  It is one thing to forgo our rights in the kingdom for the sake of building up others.  For example, we might avoid a practice that is not sinful because it has the potential to lead a weaker believer into sin.  Yet, we cannot allow ourselves to become a slave to those who merely want to impose legalism on our lives.

Sometimes it is hard to know the difference between a call to defer our rights and one to exercise our liberty.  However, through a study of the scriptures, prayer and careful thought we can learn good discernment.

The main point here is that freedom in Christ requires wisdom as we carry it out on a daily basis.  We should not fall into the trap of splitting hairs or creating elaborate systems of conduct.  This is one of those places where we should err on the side of not hurting others, even if we aren’t sure our actions are harmful.  Then, of course, at some point we have to know when we are being played by those who just want to control us, and exercise our freedom.

We are free, but it does matter how we use our freedom.  This is how it is with most any freedom.  Nothing is handed to us without responsibility and risk.  Oh, and I made it back safely from that first ride in my parent’s car.  So did our own children.  I hope I can be there when theirs do the same.

The Kingdom and the Illusion

I am writing this devotion from a veteran’s cemetery as I await the arrival of a funeral procession.  The brother in Christ we are coming to celebrate served his country well, and today his country, family and friends will show respect for his devotion.

Veteran’s cemeteries are unique in their uniformity.  Rows upon rows of modest stones mark the graves of the men and women who helped defend our freedom.  The nature of a veteran’s cemetery accentuates a point we know to be true, but sometimes forget amid large monuments and mausoleums: death has no class distinction.  The memory and legacy of the deceased varies, but everyone takes the same amount of goods into the afterlife.

This doesn’t mean some lives don’t have a greater impact on earth than others.  In fact, the cemetery where I am today is named after a man who worked tirelessly throughout his life in support of veterans.  It is also true that some of the greatest work in our world is often performed by people who receive little or no recognition.

Sometimes the grand displays that mark the burial spots of the dead correctly represent the impact they had on earth.  At other times, they seem to claim things that never were.  And certainly there are countless unmarked graves containing the remains of some of history’s greatest human beings.

But, if for a moment we think we can somehow discern one’s heavenly reward based on any of these things, we are mistaken.  Worldly acclamation is illusionary.  Eternal reward, on the other hand, is reality.  Jesus once said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)

Can our earthly works provide a glimpse of our heavenly reward?  Absolutely!  If we weren’t aware of the things we can do here to please God how would we know what to store up for eternity?  There is nothing wrong with considering how God might reward us, or referencing someone else’s good works as we speculate on his or her reward.

My point is simply that we should not be drawn into the false notion of valuing a man or woman’s life based on earthly status alone.  To do so is to set ourselves up for some bad investments while we are here.  On the other hand, if we determine to serve the kingdom first, a lot of worldly accolades might get tossed in for free.  Yet, this side-benefit isn’t the goal.  It is rather to separate ourselves from the false illusion of worldly success and determine to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

The friend we came to bury today will surely receive many rewards from God.  We can’t predict what they might be, but for starters we know everyone who dies in Jesus gets to worship Him in person.

Amazing!  We can spend our lives accumulating trophies and in the end our worship is one of the few things we take with us.  Someone might say, “Then we had better grab all we can while we are here!”  I say, “Why?  I don’t see any of that stuff today in this cemetery.”

Don’t be taken in by the illusion.  It really isn’t worth it in the long-run.  Farewell, friend.  Enter into your reward.

Kingdom Conviction

One of the greatest tensions in God’s kingdom is that between grace and truth.  Theologically, this should not be the case.  God’s truth is both an expression of His grace, and a means of bringing people to that grace.  Grace describes all good gifts, flowing from the throne of God.  We can trust that everything we receive from heaven is good because God is truthful and true.  God is truth.

Yet, when it comes to kingdom work, and the difficult task of leading people out of sin’s darkness, we feel the tension.  The story line goes something like this: “How do we uphold the truth while showing grace to sinners?”  Granted, we are all sinners.  But there is a difference between admitting our battle with sin and choosing to live in it.  In the New Testament, when Jesus met sinners, He showed grace but also called them into a new life.

It is this call to a different walk that can be lost in our effort to promote the kingdom.  We focus on Jesus’ words to the accusers who stood ready to stone a sinful woman: “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone!”  But we neglect His final words to the accused: “Go and sin no more.”

The Bible contrasts the kingdom of darkness with the new life we live in Christ.  “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14)    And again, “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Rom. 13:12-14)

Can there be any doubt that Jesus calls us to leave our sin behind when we make our commitment to follow Him?  Since we have received His grace, we want to live in His truth.  To borrow from the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 6:1, why would we want to continue to sin just because we know we are covered with grace?  To do so is akin to being careless with fire because we live next to a fire station, or taking unnecessary risks with power tools because our neighbor is a doctor.  The grace of God isn’t an excuse to go on sinning.  It is an opportunity to be made new, turn from sin, and discover why we were created.

This all makes sense until we find ourselves working with someone entrenched in sin, and we struggle to show them Jesus without pushing them away.  In other words, we struggle to find the balance between speaking the truth and showing grace.  While we remember these are not natural polar opposites in the Bible, they do seem to take this position when we apply them practically.

I wish to submit a thought in the midst of this tension that might not be popular, but as they say, “Here goes.”  I propose one reason we experience tension between truth and grace is because we are lazy in sharing both.  Before you leave me, allow me to explain.  In matters of truth, we cannot ignore what God has said.  It is easier to overlook truth when it meets with opposition, but we cannot simply push biblical teaching into the background because we don’t want to do the hard work of exposing sin.  Granted, we must be sure our understanding of truth isn’t laced with personal preference.  Yet, truth is truth, and whether we embrace it or resist it, we must deal with it.

But we cannot work hard at truth without working hard at grace.  Would we really run as great a risk of pushing people away from Jesus’ truth if we loved them the way Jesus loved them?   There is no doubt, if we work hard at telling the truth, but don’t love, people will presume we hate them.  And if we work hard at love, but forget the truth, the people we care about will assume it doesn’t matter how they live, as long as they feel good about themselves.

Jesus ministry was intense in both grace and truth.  That’s why his disciples rarely, if ever, experienced a dull moment.  That’s why some sinners walked away from Jesus and legalists tried to kill Him.

I can’t tell you how to strike the balance between grace and truth in your work for the kingdom, but I do feel compelled to remind you the kingdom of God is very different from the kingdom of darkness.  If we are going to help others see the difference we can’t be lazy; not with our minds or our hearts.  If this sounds difficult, then I have succeeded in making my point.  Jesus never said sharing His message with the world was going to be easy.   But He did say it was urgent.

“This World is Not My Home” (Or Is It?)

Perhaps you recognize this line from an old gospel hymn.  Allow me to finish the thought: “This world is not my home. I’m just passing through.  My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue.”

The bible supports the notion of storing up treasures in heaven, and warns us about becoming too attached to the world.  These two directives came together in Jesus encounter with a rich young ruler (Luke 18:22).  Jesus challenged him to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him.  He promised, “You will have treasure in heaven.”  But the young ruler became very sad and walked away because he had many possessions.

We are additionally warned to avoid sins that result from an unhealthy engagement in worldly pursuits.  “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11 NIV)  In light of these clear and concise truths, you might think I am insane, or at the very lease spiritually misguided to suggest this world might indeed be our home.  How could I possibly consider such a proposal?

First, rest assured I believe in life after death, and the temporal nature of things.  If you know me, you know I put very little confidence in possessions, but rest my soul in the Lord Jesus, my “everything.”

The issue is whether we view the word “world” as a place or a system.  My wife and I have been participating in a capital campaign for church structures since our congregation lost its building to a fire in 1999.  Our last commitment represented the largest single gift we have ever made, and could have been used to purchase a new family sedan.  But we invested it in a building that we will never own, on a physical piece of ground which will eventually be burned up or refashioned (depending on your view of events at the end of time).  So the material structure we have given to is a part of this world, but we are giving to help our church family accomplish a spiritual mission from heaven.  Without our heavenly vision the building is just a place, but when it is dedicated to the kingdom it becomes a kingdom asset.

I believe we can distinguish many things in our lives this way.  Our houses are a place to live, but they can also become a beacon of Christian hospitality.  Our workplaces can be money mills to line our pockets, or they can be a mission field where we become salt and light to those who are weary.

My point is that the world is not our home if we are referring to a self-absorbed system of personal pursuit.  Yet, it can be our home-base if we are talking about our calling as citizens of a greater kingdom.  Another way of saying this is, “since we are kingdom people, we are always at home when Christ rules in our hearts.”  When we frame things this way, nature itself because heavenly because it draws us into the presence of the Lord and declares His glory (Psalm 19:1).

I am definitely waiting for the appearance of Christ, and some days I search the sky with a great longing.  I know I take nothing with me when I die, and I am also aware I can unwittingly worship what has been created and lose sight of my Creator.

Still, as a believer I cannot afford to detach myself from my world.  What good is salt and light if it they never come into contact with decay and darkness?  Ok, I will say, this world is not my home.  But it is my mission, and I am not just passing through.  I have been put here for a purpose, and every time I allow myself to be used by God, I am doing kingdom work.  Dear God, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).