It's amazing how often Jesus' teachings find me in the middle of a paradox. His words are surprising. They are not expected and defy my intuition. Sometimes it even feels like a contradiction.
When Jesus arrived here on earth, his number one topic was about the Kingdom of God. 121x's it is referred to in the Gospels. The kingdom is God's rule brought here to earth in and through the life of Jesus. When Jesus gives his great Sermon on the Mount, he is talking about this kingdom and what it looks like.
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." That is a powerful prayer. And Jesus inaugurates this. However, as I live my life today, I know that his Kingdom has not fully come. it's not fully realized. There is still evil. Creation is still out of order. Hurricanes still blast our shores. Tornados still take lives. Earthquakes collapse cities and small towns. Humans are prone to sin. We are bent on evil. The moment we accomplish some good, our neighbor down the road has built an evil empire. Or we find we've done so in our own hearts.
We live in the "in between". Between the resurrection of Jesus and his Return. The "already but not yet" as some have said. So while we must work in the present for what Jesus will complete in the future, we must live in this paradox. It's hard for me to find balance. And it's hard when you understand that evil will persist until Jesus returns and puts all things in order. So the struggle persists till then.
I am eager for his return and at the same time, eager to work as his ambassador to a world who needs a new kingdom and a new king. The King of all Creation.
What will I do today to labor for his Kingdom to come and His will to be done?
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