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Thy Kingdom Come: Living in Light of Heaven’s Reality

Introduction: A Future Hope That Shapes Our Present

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say the words, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But have we ever stopped to consider what that truly means? How does our understanding of God’s kingdom shape the way we live today?

For many of us, the concept of a kingdom can feel foreign. We live in a democratic society where the idea of a king is often associated with oppression. But Jesus is a different kind of King—one who is loving, all-knowing, and self-sacrificing. He lays down His life for His people and promises to be personally present with us always.

The Nature of God’s Kingdom

1. An Upside-Down Kingdom

God’s kingdom is unlike any earthly rule. It operates on principles that seem completely opposite to human expectations:

– The last shall be first, and the first shall be last. (Matthew 20:16)
– The least among you will be the greatest. (Luke 9:48)
– It is not something we conquer but something we receive. (Mark 10:15)

Jesus illustrated this in Mark 10:15: “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”* The kingdom belongs to those with childlike faith, trust, and humility.

2. Already Here, But Not Yet Fulfilled

The kingdom of God is both a present reality and a future promise. Jesus declared in Mark 1:15, *“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”*

Yet, He also spoke of a future fulfillment in Matthew 26:29: “I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

We live in the tension of the “already” and the “not yet.”

3. The Kingdom as the Reign of Jesus

The kingdom of God is ultimately about the reign and rule of Jesus. History, both biblical and modern, has shown what happens when people reject God’s rule in favor of their own:

– In 1 Samuel 8, Israel demanded a human king, rejecting God as their ruler. This led to centuries of corruption and hardship.
– Throughout history, when leaders and institutions stray from Christ’s authority, chaos follows.
– Even in the church, we sometimes replace Jesus with human leaders, traditions, and structures.

But God is still answering our prayer: “Thy kingdom come.” Could it be that we are at a tipping point, where God is reshaping His church to align more closely with His rule?

Rethinking Church in Light of the Kingdom

For centuries, churches have adopted human-made structures—buildings, budgets, programs, and professionals. While not inherently bad, these things can sometimes distract from the essence of the kingdom. Jesus gave us a simple but profound model:

1. Receive His Love – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you… (John 13:34)
2. Love Others – …so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
3. Make Disciples – “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

The church is not a building or an institution—it is a spiritual family that exists wherever Jesus reigns. When we prioritize relationships over rigid structures, we free ourselves to fully live out God’s kingdom on earth.

A Call to Kingdom Living

As the world’s traditional religious institutions decline, the kingdom of God is growing. It is a *way of life*, not just a weekly gathering. Our challenge is to ensure that Jesus truly reigns in our lives, our communities, and our churches.

Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:17-23 remind us of Christ’s supreme authority:

I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!  All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. (The Message)

Let us live each day with the prayer on our hearts: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

This is a summary of a recent talk I gave at a University of Kentucky Cru meeting, in January 2025.  

 

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