Near the Kingdom
Ephesians 5:5 You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them–the usual variations on idolatry–will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God. (Message)
Of all the kingdoms in the world there is one that sits high above the rest, on a plateau atop a massive mountain of infrequent ascent. Though this kingdom has superior quality of life and though there is a strong desire in the hearts of all those in the valley below to live within its walls, there are few that make the climb. You would think that the way to such a wonderful and exalted place would have the latest toll road leading right to its gate, but the very opposite is, in fact, true. As one begins to take what would appear to be the path to fulfillment, the road leading up to the elevated kingdom takes a seemingly endless series of hairpin turns that are almost invisible with overgrowth. This is due to the fact that most people just miss them altogether and keep headed straight on the other clearly visible alternative path that leads straight to a much less acceptable destination. Though many have tried to make their own way straight up the mountain, hacking through timber and scaling impossible cliffs, this way always leads to injury and pain, with inevitable frustration and failure.
There is really only one way to get even close to this kingdom. This way is one that takes care at every corner in the road where there is an option to either choose the more popular and well traveled route straight ahead, or turn off on the much smaller way of selfless humility. What makes that kingdom atop the mountain do wonderful in the first place is because of this very truth- that nothing done there is motivated by greed or self seeking motives. If these blemishing elements were to approach its walls even somewhat closely, its purity and exalted value would be compromised, possibly removing the right for this once righteous kingdom to occupy the mountain’s top at all. Arriving at and abiding within its gates, therefore, will mean that one has developed a pattern of choosing the betterment of others at every turn in the road, and that self promotion has never been a motivation.
It doesn’t matter what the reasons are, and it doesn’t matter how much understanding there is about forgiveness and the power of God’s grace, there is kingdom living that will never take place in our lives until it’s no longer us that lives, but it’s Christ living in us. Wherever Christ is truly living, there will be such a passion for the welfare of someone else that it would never occur to us to use them for our own benefit. To despise everything about gaining anything on this earth at the expense of others is to gain one’s own soul and the ability to approach the gates of God’s kingdom and abide within its walls.
While this is all good to know and there may be a grip on our hearts to accomplish this and seek other’s needs above our own, there is only one way to really maintain this heart and this passion. To really see the path of selfless righteousness and make the right choice at every turn will require attention and focus on the One who is making every corner easily. Like Jesus told of doing only those things He saw His Father do, (John 5:19) we can also effortlessly make the righteous choice for the betterment of others only as our eyes are continually fixed on our Father, following the path He is taking. Left to ourselves, there will be a tendency to focus on our own needs and devalue the needs of others. Following the Father, though, is following someone who has no need for self promotion and is ever out for the good of His creation. To merely follow Him is to choose right every time. What is His attitude and heart towards that other person in our life? Ascension to kingdom living is possible in Him.
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
