Tag: Matthew 6:10

Your Father’s House: Heaven

Studying a rail map of Europe, my friends hunched on the lower bunk next to me as rain pelted the windows of the youth hostel. On a break from classes, our plans to explore the picturesque alps of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany had been derailed by a chilly, wet stormfront. After sloshing through Lucerne with soggy feet and seeing only thick clouds instead of snowcapped peaks, we revamped our itinerary seeking sunnier destinations further south.

With a vague knowledge of Italy, we chose two cities that fit our timeframe and Eurail pass parameters. The next afternoon, we stepped off the train into glorious sunshine in Venice. After exploring the canals, bridges, and piazzas for a few days, we moved on to Florence and more warm weather. A thick guidebook supplemented our youthful ignorance, leading us to the highlights of each city, but sunshine, gelato, and pizza had been the main draws for us. With minimal knowledge we couldn’t fully appreciate the history, art, and culture of those rich and multi-faceted cities.

Most of us have impressions of places we’ve never been that come from reputations or stereotypes. We might attach them to certain foods, weather, events, or people. But as we learn more about the place or travel there firsthand, our preconceived notions shift, and our one-dimensional knowledge begins to expand and deepen. Not long ago I had the chance to return to Florence and revisit a few of the highlights I’d seen as a college student. With more time to research and prepare, my understanding of the city and appreciation for its beauty and history only grew. I still enjoyed the sunshine and gelato, but also so much more beyond that.

For many of us, our knowledge about Heaven is like this; it’s filled with assumptions that have been influenced by our upbringing, our faith background, books, music, and movies. We typically view it as “a better place” where people go when they die. Without much concrete knowledge, we may envision Heaven as a buffet of all of our favorite things served up according to our whims and desires: a perpetual vacation on a tropical beach, unending happiness surrounded by favorite people and pets, or a never ending series of adventures and activities in beautiful locations. Most of us focus on what the surroundings will be like, who will be there, and what we’ll do.

In John’s gospel, Jesus describes Heaven as His Father’s house. He says to His disciples, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3, NIV)

Spending eternity with the Lord isn’t always at the forefront of our minds, though is it? He’s mainly the gatekeeper who lets people in or bars entry to Heaven. A popular view is that all “good” people go there, though the measurement for “good” is vague. Sometimes we’re even suspicious of God for being the one to make this judgement. Considering what happens after we die feels uncomfortable and frightening, so many of us choose not to delve into those thoughts, find answers to our questions, or clarify our assumptions.

If any of this resonates and you’d like  a more biblical understanding of Heaven, I hope you’ll join me as I work my way through Jennifer Rothschilds’ Bible study: Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight. I’ve read a variety of materials about Heaven over the years but have never found an interactive resource like this that pulls so much information together. With Scripture as her source material, Rothschild helps participants to understand what’s true about Heaven and how we can prepare for it now. She opens the study with a few key concepts that are helpful to understand. For example, Rothschild explains that when used in Scripture, the word Heaven has one of three meanings:

  1. The sky where birds fly; the air within the earth’s atmosphere.
  2. The expanse of the universe where the sun, moon and stars reside.
  3. The dwelling place of God.

Rothschild says, “don’t assume every time you read the word Heaven in the Bible, it is referring to our eternal home with God.”1

Rothschild also explains, “even though we think of Heaven as ultimately one place, we need to see how the Scripture talks about it in three different time periods.”2 She distinguishes between them as follows:

  • Period 1: How the Bible speaks of Heaven from the time of creation in Genesis to the crucifixion of Christ in the gospels.
  • Period 2: How the Bible speaks about Heaven from the resurrection of Christ in the gospels until His return (mostly described in Revelation but also mentioned in other parts of the New Testament.)
  • Period 3: How Scripture describes Heaven from the return of Christ going forward into eternity.

According to this chronology, we are currently in the middle period after Christ’s resurrection but before His return.

As my understanding of Heaven has expanded, I’ve begun to equate it with nearness to God. It is where the Lord’s kingdom functions as He originally intended without the hindrance of sin. When Jesus taught His followers to pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is with heaven,” He gave words to our yearning for wholeness and peace and our longing for a world without sin, brokenness, and evil. (Matthew 6:10, NIV).

We’re going to learn that Heaven is much more than an unending vacation in paradise. At the end of time it is where God dwells with His people and “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4b, NIV)

Join me as we consider our preconceived notions about Heaven and explore God’s Word together.  Let’s stop avoiding what we don’t understand, release our vague hopes, and find out what awaits us when faith becomes sight.

Order your copy of Jennifer Rothschild’s Heaven using this link.

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  1. Jennifer Rothschild, Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight, Lifeway Press, 2025, 23.
  2. ibid, 24

On Earth as It Is in Heaven

 The front cover of Jen Wilkin’s book Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom includes a 17th century British tapestry that depicts the tree of life bearing abundant fruit and sheltering a variety of animals.  This multi-faceted piece of art (pictured above) attempts to capture John’s vision of the new Jerusalem described in Revelation 22. A tapestry is a fitting choice for the book’s cover given that the concluding chapters of Revelation tie together so many threads woven throughout Scripture. In this post we’ll cover Revelation 21:9-22:21.

Jen Wilkin explains, “With the introduction of the new Jerusalem in the seventh sight, we are invited into an extended view of all that is made new. Wars and rumors of wars are behind us. Grief and sorrow are wiped away. Sin is no longer in our midst. Satan can no longer deceive, seduce, nor persecute. And the last enemy, death, is under the feet of the One seated on the throne. The serpent’s head is crushed. The seed of the woman has triumphed.” (153)

Picking up where we left off in my last post “Seven Last Sights”, Revelation 21:9 continues with a vision of “the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” (21:10b-11, CSB) John includes a detailed description full of symbolic numbers. Twelve angels stand at twelve gates, each inscribed with the name of one of the twelve sons of Israel. Three gates face in four directions—north, south, east, and west. The city wall rests on twelve foundations named for the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Here we see a beautiful merging of the Old and New Testament that encompasses the complete scope of the created world (symbolized by the number 4) and the entirety of the people of God (symbolized by the number 12).

The vision continues with a description of the dimensions of the city—a perfect square of 12,000 stadia (1380 miles) and a wall of 144 cubits (216 feet). Jen Wilkin explains that this expanse would’ve encompassed the limits of the known world for the original readers of Revelation—indicating that the new Jerusalem would be like a vast version of the Holy of Holies covering the entire earth. In an ironic twist, precious metals and jewels that often were the object of idolatry for earth dwellers are common building materials in the city of God. (Week 10 video)

John notes that the new Jerusalem does not have a temple “because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (21:22b) The time for making sacrifices of atonement has passed, so the need for a temple is unnecessary. Also missing in the new Jerusalem are the sun and moon “because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (21:23b)  This echoes John’s writings on light in other parts of Scripture as well: “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5b NIV) and “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (John 1:4, NIV)

With the enemy defeated and final judgement complete, there is no threat of evil entering the holy city. The gates of the new Jerusalem remain eternally open because “Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (21:27)  God’s beloved people remain safe and secure for eternity. His kingdom has come and His will has been done on earth, just as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

John’s vision continues in Revelation 22, where we discover that the new Jerusalem is a garden city. The river of life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the city’s main street. “The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse.” (22:3) This echoes a vision described in Ezekiel: “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” (Ezekiel 47:12, NIV)

With Eden restored, God’s people will once again walk in close fellowship with Him in the garden. This is a stunning contrast to the Lord’s explanation when Moses asks to see Him face to face: “He said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live…When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:20,22-23, NIV) In the new garden city with perfected bodies “his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” (22:3b-4)

This portion of John’s vision ends with a reiteration: “Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will right forever and ever.” (22:5) Many threads from Scripture tie together here– most notably, Jesus’ words about Himself, also recorded by John: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV)

Revelation 22:6-21 brings John’s vision to a close with some final words—including five reminders that the time for Jesus’ return is near. John includes direct quotes from Christ: “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (22:7) Throughout our study of Revelation, I’ve been struck by the notion of “keeping” God’s words in the forefront of my mind. John’s vision makes it clear that God wins in the end and honors those who remain steadfast and true to Him. I keep thinking about the push for instant gratification and indulgence that our culture drives toward with increasing momentum. Is this the enemy’s way of lulling people into complacency? Is he conditioning us to avoid doing what is hard or waiting for what is best and right? As people opt for temporary satisfaction and pleasure, are they forfeiting eternal peace and joy like those who take the mark of the beast? It’s a battle to remain faithful to God and to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, but it’s one well worth fighting.

As the chapter progresses John continues recording Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.” (22:14) Those wearing garments cleansed in the blood of Christ freely enter God’s eternal dwelling and eat from the tree of life. This is an incredible full circle moment redeeming the tragedy of the first garden:

“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the Lord God said, ‘The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.’ So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:21-24, NIV)

To protect them from living eternally in a fallen state, the Lord banishes Adam and Eve from Eden and kills animals to provide garments for them. This is the first time blood will be spilled to cover sin. Now, in Revelation, He clothes His people in garments covered in His blood; His death atones for their sins, the curse has been removed, and they freely eat from the tree of life in God’s eternal city.

In this passage Jesus also describes Himself as “the Root and descendant of David” weaving together the thread of a promise made to King David back in 2 Samuel: “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: ‘When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom…Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 7:11b, 12, 16, NIV)

John ends his book with great anticipation “Both the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears, say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.” (22:17) Dwelling within all believers, the Spirit joyfully awaits Christ’s return. Likewise, His bride, the Church (which includes all followers of Jesus), looks for His return with great expectancy. Yet again, we’re reminded of earlier passages in Scripture that this final statement ties together. Consider this prophecy in Isaiah: “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs… But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (Isaiah 35:6b,7a, 9b, 10, NIV)

Jesus’ own words from John’s gospel also speak of living water: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14, NIV)

So many people avoid delving into Revelation. But, as Jen Wilkin reminds us throughout our study, it’s primarily a recapitulation of earlier Scriptures. For years I’ve poured time into studying many books of the Bible but have avoided this final one. While Revelation does have some unsettling content that provides important warnings, it is also a book filled with hope and encouragement for all who call on the name of Jesus. Despite the length of my post, I’ve barely touched on all the threads that weave together to make this beautiful tapestry of God’s Word.

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near…Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (1:3 & 22:20b)

  • Tapestry image from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (public domain). Click here to read the history.
  • Jen Wilkin, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, Lifeway Press, 2024.
  • All Scripture quoted from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), unless noted otherwise.

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Your Kingdom Come

“Later is longer,” my pastor explained during a recent sermon on parenting. His point was that disciplining and training kids  requires consistency in their younger years  that reaps benefits for their teen years and beyond. The more I thought about it, the more I realized “later is longer” also has implications for life on earth in comparison with life in eternity.

As we’re wrapping up the final chapter of Elizabeth Woodson’s From Beginning to Forever, this week’s session provides a big-picture view of Revelation. This Apocalyptic book about the end times and the creation of a new heaven and earth intimidates many people. Granted, the ambiguous chronology along with the variety of symbols, metaphors, and references to Old Testament prophecy can be confusing. But as followers of Jesus, why wouldn’t we want to seek understanding about what unfolds when He returns?

The events in Revelation are both inspiring and terrifying. It’s unsettling to read about the temporary  hardship and persecution believers will face at the hands of the enemy. But reading Revelation, we’ll also discover much encouragement. That’s why John begins the book writing “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3, ESV) Elizabeth Woodson explains the two main purposes of Revelation are to show “1) the spiritual reality of the cosmic battle, 2) the future hope of Jesus’s final victory over sin, Satan and death.” (p. 181) In short, it’s a book written to equip and encourage believers.

John’s vision begins with messages to seven churches that call out specific ways they have demonstrated faithfulness to the Lord and/ or gotten off track. While these letters aren’t written to us, they are written for us as followers of Jesus. We see praise for those who remain steadfast and endure persecution and warning for those who tolerate sin and fall into apathy. The churches of 2000 years ago may have looked different culturally, but they struggled with the same root issues as believers today. Knowing “later is longer” makes persevering and remaining faithful and obedient to God worth the effort.

After addressing the seventh church, John moves on to describe a vison the Lord gives him of the throne room of heaven. “The jeweled description of God, the twenty-four elders around the throne, winged creatures, thunder and lightning—all of this was a scene beyond words…Day and night they continue to repeat the glorious truth about God and then fall before Him in worship.” (p. 185) John explains, “They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’” (Revelation 4:9-11, ESV) While reading descriptions of what takes place in the throne room, you may recognize familiar lyrics from songs and hymns inspired by the imagery.

Next, John describes God’s judgement being poured out on earth for human rebellion and sin. Although Elizabeth Woodson doesn’t mention it specifically, one of the most comforting elements I discovered in Revelation was this command “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:3, ESV) This seems related to Paul’s teaching to believers in Ephesians: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14, ESV) As the cosmic battle and final judgement unfold, believers will be clearly identified and protected from God’s wrath. How reassuring it is to discover this amidst many graphic and frightening scenes John describes.

While it’s unclear exactly how or when events will unfold (and it’s possible some are already unfolding), “there are three key events that all Christians agree on—1) Jesus Christ returns in a physical body; 2) the dead are resurrected; 3) believers and non-believers are judged.” (p. 188) Although the thought of facing God for judgement may make us quake in fear, we must remember that those who have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf have their names written in the book of life (Revelation 20:15) and have nothing to fear. Believers will be seen through the perfect holiness of Jesus whose blood paid the penalty for their sin.

“With God’s judgment of creation complete, God’s plan of salvation will be complete. Sin, evil, death, and Satan’s schemes will be no more… The kingdom, God’s divine plan by which He would dwell in perfect harmony with creation and humanity, can finally and fully be restored!” (p.190) The shalom of Eden will once again become a reality and the work of ruling and reigning God’s kingdom will continue for eternity with the Lord dwelling among His people.

The time we take to learn and apply Scripture, to practice the way of Jesus, and to live as aliens in the world is preparing us for the time described at the end of Revelation. The efforts we make to expand the Lord’s Kingdom on Earth give others a taste of His love and reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. Author and theologian N.T. Wright explains:

“You are…accomplishing something that will become in due course part of God’s new world.  Every act of love, gratitude and kindness; every work of art or music inspired by the love of God and delight in the beauty of his creation…every act of care and nurture, of comfort and support, for one’s fellow human beings…and of course every prayer, all Spirit-led teaching, every deed that spreads the gospel, builds up the church, embraces and embodies holiness rather than corruption, and makes the name of Jesus honored in the world—all of this will find its way, through the resurrecting power of God, into the new creation that God will one day make…what we do in Christ and by the Spirit in the present is not wasted. It will last all the way into God’s new world.”*

 Knowing “later is longer,” let’s focus our efforts on expanding God’s kingdom on earth now. Let’s invest our time and energy in endeavors that have value all the way to eternity, just as Jesus encouraged His followers to pray “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, ESV)

*N.T. Wright Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church, HarperOne, 2008, page 208.

Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.

Interested in learning more about how what we do now can prepare us for eternity in the new heaven and earth? Consider reading Garden City by John Mark Comer or Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. 

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The GOAT Part 6: Revenge and Enemies

You don’t have to search very hard to find songs, books, movies, and shows based on the theme of revenge. Plot lines about characters retaliating for wrongs committed against them are plentiful. Just do a quick internet search and you’ll find a variety of titles to entertain you and tutor you in the art of revenge.  It’s human nature to want to get even, but it’s not biblical. Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount makes that clear:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42, NIV)

Jesus counters our natural desire to retaliate. This new interpretation of an Old Testament command separates the responsibility of the government to punish evildoers justly from our personal responsibility to love our enemies. We’re not called to seek retribution for personal slights and are told to ignore personal insults (that’s the meaning of “turn the other cheek”). One commentary explains, “Christians must be willing to give more of their material goods, time, and labor than required, even if the demands upon us are unjust. We should loan to those who want to borrow, love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. Enforcing ‘an eye for an eye’ is the magistrate’s job; forgiving our enemies is ours.”1

The commentary continues: “Jesus’ limiting of the ‘eye for an eye’ principle doesn’t prohibit self-defense or the forceful protection of the innocent from harm. The actions of duly appointed agents of the government, such as police officers and the military, to protect citizens and preserve the peace are not in question. Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek applies to personal relationships, not judicial policy. The principle of ‘an eye for an eye’ is meant as a judicial policy, not as a rule for interpersonal relationships.”2

Turning the other cheek also doesn’t imply pacifism. It’s simply a command to refrain from retaliation for personal offenses. Jesus wasn’t setting government foreign policy, just calling His followers not to worry about defending their personal “rights” or avenging their honor.3

The next portion of Jesus’ teaching is equally challenging:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor: and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48, NIV)

When someone hurts us, our natural reaction is to protect ourselves and fight back, but Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He exemplified this by never retaliating when someone wronged Him, which happened many times. His own people rejected His message (John 1:11); religious leaders mocked and tried to trap Him (John 8:6); His family was ashamed of Him and tried to make Him stop preaching (Mark 3:21); His friends deserted Him when He needed them most (Mark 14:50); the city who had cried “Hosanna!” when He arrived on Palm Sunday shouted “Crucify Him!” a few days later (Mark 15:13). So, when Jesus said to pray for our enemies, He knew what He was talking about.

Jesus provided the perfect example when He was being nailed to a cross. In the middle of His agony, He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34, ESV). Jesus had compassion on the people who believed they were doing the right thing by killing Him. By pointing out that they didn’t know what they were doing, He showed us several important factors that reveal how to pray for our enemies:

1. Opening Spiritual Eyes: We can pray that God will open the eyes of their hearts that they will be enlightened about truth (Ephesians 1:18). When enemies set themselves against us, they lack understanding. They are reacting from the flesh instead of responding from the Spirit. We can pray that God will open the eyes of their hearts to see us and others through the lens of the Lord’s love and wisdom.

2. Repenting of Sin: As we struggle with our enemies, we can pray for their repentance. When we pray for our enemies to repent, we know our prayers are aligned with God’s will because He also desires their repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

3. Keeping a Soft Heart: When we pray for our enemies, we can ask that our hearts will remain soft. Perhaps the Lord wants to use us to accomplish His plan in the lives of our enemies. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1, ESV). When we return anger for anger, wrong for wrong, we put ourselves on the same level as our enemies. But when we respond with kindness, gentleness, and mercy, the situation is often diffused. Nothing is more convicting than a gentle response to a hateful, rude action. It’s what turning the other cheek is all about. Satan desires discord, so he tries to stir up our fury and goads us to respond in kind. We should pray that God keeps our hearts soft toward those who offend us so that His goodness will be revealed to them through us.

4. Aligning with God’s Will: Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, ESV). It is always right to ask that God’s will be done in any situation. We should pray that He’ll enable us to want what He wants. If He desires to bless our enemies, we want that, too. If He wants us to serve our enemies in some way, then that’s what we desire. Prayer is the aligning of our wills with God’s; when we pray for our enemies, we need to wrestle through our emotions until we truly want God’s best in their lives.

Praying for our enemies is not a natural response to their mistreatment of us. But remembering that we were once enemies of God ourselves, and that we are now His children should change our perspective. We can intercede for others who need the Lord’s help and guidance. Doing this keeps our own hearts free from bitterness (Hebrews 12:15). In praying for our enemies, we become more like Christ, and we keep ourselves aligned with God’s will, which is how we strive toward being perfect as He is perfect.4

Quotes and content of this post are a compilation of information from the following articles:

1. https://www.gotquestions.org/eye-for-an-eye.html

2. https://www.gotquestions.org/eye-for-an-eye.html

3. https://www.gotquestions.org/turn-other-cheek.html

4. https://www.gotquestions.org/pray-for-your-enemies.html

This post also complements the sermon by Ryan Suzuki at CPC Danville. Click here to watch.

Be Fruitful and Multiply

If my kids ever decide to map out their family tree, they’ll discover that the branches aren’t balanced or symmetrical. Some of their ancestors came from enormous families and produced limbs that were laden with bountiful fruit. Some stand alone, signifying the final offspring of a branch. Until recently, I never thought about why we use the symbol of a tree when we depict our ancestry visually. Maybe it has a connection to God’s language  when He delivers His plan for humanity in the opening pages of Genesis. Moments after creating man and woman in His image, God gives them some clear instructions, usually referred to as the Cultural Mandate:

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28, ESV).

At first glance, the mandate He gives seems straightforward and practical: they need to “be fruitful and multiply” by procreating to populate the earth. Their job is to bring order and structure to His creation and to oversee it according to His plan. However, I think there is also a deeper meaning to His words. Along with multiplying the number of people in the world, God was calling Adam and Eve to advance His kingdom on earth—to rule with, wisdom, love, and justice. He wanted them to carry out His will so that others on the planet could know and love Him as they did. Unfortunately, their choice to sin complicated this plan, but it didn’t thwart it entirely.

Throughout the Old Testament we see God’s people in a continual cycle. It would start when they rejected His way and sinned, which led to their decline as a people. This would be followed by consequences allowed by God’s hand. Eventually this would lead to them to repentance, renewed obedience, and restored relationship with Him. In between failures, the Israelites fitfully furthered His kingdom at different points in history. But it isn’t until Jesus arrives on the scene that we fully recognize the magnitude of God’s plan. “From the beginning, humanity was mandated to represent God, build culture and bring shalom to His world. Although compromised by the Fall, the mandate remains in place and is in fact fulfilled in Christ, the true God and true man who will ultimately restore His creation.” (“The Cultural Mandate: Living as Divine Image-Bearers” by Subby Szterszky. Click here for the full article.)

With Jesus’ birth, God renews His plan for His people to be fruitful and multiply to expand His kingdom—only this time it’s not so much about increasing the population as it is about changing the culture one heart at a time. His goal was for us to view ourselves and the world from His perspective instead of our own, which is why Jesus says: “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3, NIV). It is not until we are spiritually transformed that we can recognize God’s kingdom all around us and participate in advancing it further. Jesus explains, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst’” (Luke 17:20-21, NIV).

God’s kingdom has always been present in the world. And once we identify the places He’s moving and join Him in His work, He uses us to impact our surroundings. That’s what we’re inviting Him to do when we say: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10, NIV). Those words reveal our longing for God to carry out His will on earth so that His kingdom will continue to expand. This prayer acknowledges that we’re putting aside our wills and aligning ourselves with God’s agenda.

In the final days of His ministry, Jesus commissioned His followers to continue multiplying and bearing fruit when He said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV).

He assured them of His constant presence with them, reminding them that multiplying and bearing fruit was only possible by staying closely connected with Him. Perhaps they recalled His earlier teaching:“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5. NIV).

Every follower of Jesus represents another branch on God’s family tree. And by abiding with Him, we’re equipped to share His love with others so that the branches will multiply and continue to bear more fruit in His ever-expanding kingdom.

When we walk consistently with Jesus and allow His love to flow through us, we’re doing the work of advancing God’s kingdom in a world that desperately needs Him. One of my favorite songs describing the impact we can have on our surroundings is “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective.  Listen and make it your prayer today.

Jen Wilkin, God of Creation: A Study of Genesis 1-11, Week 4 Lifeway Press, 2017

Note: the cycle of God’s people described in paragraph four is a commonly held truth among Bible Scholars.  This particular statement is paraphrased from Gideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength by Priscilla Shirer.

Eliminate Idols; Build God’s Kingdom- Final Thoughts on No Other Gods

Moving the colorful troops around on the game board seems fairly simple. But if you‘ve ever played the game of “Risk,” you know it’s actually quite complicated. Dubbed “The Game of Global Domination,” the rules written by Parker Brothers explain: “Play the commander of vast armies, a general of superior strategy and a tactician unlike any mankind has ever seen. Your goal is simple: to take over the world.”

Each player claims a portion of a large fictionalized world map and challenges opponents to battles. Using a combination of rolling dice and drawing cards that determine a player’s advantages and limitations, players must calculate attack and defense strategies. The game can last for hours. I pictured the large world map and the tiny game pieces as I thought about what happens when we leave idols behind to focus fully on God.

Why, you may ask, would a board game prompt such thoughts? The answer is simple: some of us are so consumed with our own circumstances that we don’t realize we have the opportunity to expand God’s kingdom on earth, like spreading more of His troops across the map on the game board. Once we’re ready to leave our personal agendas behind and trust His will above our own, we discover what the abundant life God promises is really all about.

In the book of Joshua, the Israelites expanded God’s physical kingdom on earth when they entered the Promised Land and began taking possession of it. We have the opportunity to do something similar on a spiritual level every day. It’s all part of living out the phrase in the Lord’s Prayer that says “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Yet sometimes we focus so much on our personal relationship with God that we overlook the fact that we’re called to look beyond ourselves. Claiming Jesus as Savior should go hand in hand with increasing His rule and reign on earth.

Back in Genesis, God’s original plan was to use Adam and Eve to spread His kingdom. He made them in His image, gave them authority over the earth and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28, NIV) Sadly, when Satan succeeded in tempting them in the Garden of Eden, their choice to disobey God brought sin into the world. This caused the authority originally given to them to be passed to the devil. Although God had ultimate sovereignty, the enemy was (and still is) temporarily granted authority because of Adam and Eve’s choice to sin.

The good news is God’s kingdom still exists in its fullness in heaven. By doing His will, we increase His kingdom on earth. Author, Bible scholar, and Anglican Bishop N.T. Wright explains: “God intends his wise, creative, loving presence and power to be reflected…into his world through his human creatures. He has enlisted us to act as his stewards in the project of creation. And, following the disaster of rebellion and corruption [that took place in the Garden of Eden], he has built into the gospel message the fact that through the work of Jesus and the power of the Spirit, he equips humans to help in the work of getting the project back on track.”

Imagine the example of the game I described. Although God ultimately owns the “game board” (the world) and all of the pieces, the enemy has been given a temporary seat at the table. For a time, he has the opportunity to strategize about how he can thwart God’s kingdom from spreading on earth. Still, many people who love the Lord remain passive as events unfold, not understanding they’re meant to play a part in His ongoing plan to expand His kingdom on earth. Those who realize it help to reclaim the world for good instead of letting it languish in evil.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, followers of Jesus reflect creation as God intended it to be. Once we eliminate the idols that hinder us and make room for God, we’re ready to change the atmosphere in our world. Engaging in the adventure of building God’s kingdom on earth brings joy, hope and fulfillment in a way that idols never will. Understanding this makes the hollow things we used to cherish seem flimsy, insignificant and useless by comparison. Loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength enables Him to do amazing things through us. The ripple effects cause His kingdom to spread throughout the earth, preparing it for the day when John’s prophecy about heaven and earth merging will become a reality:

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3b-4, NIV)

There are two songs that have impacted me deeply as I’ve considered the part we play in furthering God’s kingdom on earth: “With Every Act of Love” by Jason Gray and “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective. Both provide tangible examples and inspiring perspectives about this topic. Rend Collective’s song also prompted me to write a prayer about this compelling subject. Would you consider praying it with me?

God, unleash your kingdom’s power, reaching near and far. We know no force of hell can stop your beauty from changing hearts. You made us for much more than the comfort and security we seek from idols. Awake the kingdom seed in us. Fill us with the strength and love of Christ. We are your church; let us always be reminded that we are the hope on earth! Build your kingdom here; let the darkness fear. Show your mighty hand; heal our streets and land. Set your church on fire, win this nation back; change the atmosphere. Build your kingdom here, we pray.

v=3q7xnR9E3gohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q7xnR9E3go

Kelly Minter, No Other Gods: Confronting Our Modern Day Idols, Lifeway Press, 2007, 2012.

N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church, HarperOne, 2008, p. 207.