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August 1, 2021
15 As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field; 16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. 17 But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren 18 of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His precepts. 19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
- Psalm 103:15-19
The kingdom of heaven is an eternal kingdom. This is a precept that comes down through the ages is passed from generation to generation throughout the history of Israel. Even in those time when Israel is captive in Babylon or under the reign of another authority we find verse eluding to the coming of an eternal kingdom of God, or kingdom of heaven. This same ideology is passed on to the Christians of the first century, who have faith in the resurrection of Jesus, believing that the eternal kingdom is soon at hand, and will be established as Jesus returns to earth. It is now God’s plan that not only the people of Israel to be a part of this kingdom, but all who confess Jesus as Lord, the tent becomes larger.
From this point forward in history, the Christian faith was placed in the notion of when Jesus returns this eternal kingdom will be established. Most of us hold this belief, and have waited and believed that the eternal kingdom of God is coming soon. I still believe this to be true, yet at the same time I have to really understand what ‘eternal’ means.
The idea that an eternal kingdom is something that will be established seems to contradict the idea of eternal, because eternal is forever, meaning forever in the past as well as forever in the future. After all we believe that God is “from everlasting to everlasting.” When we look to the psalmist’s understanding I think we gain a little perspective. Humanity is like the grass, or flowers in the field. We are only a short part of eternity. Yet, the Love of the Lord remains forever. To me this notion of the forever-ness of God and God’s kingdom can’t truly be understood while we are still the grass. We are confined to the passing of time, minutes, hours, days, years pass by and there is nothing we can do to stop them, nor can we go back through them aside from in our memories. Yet, God is outside of all of this, and a part of all of this time simultaneously. The comfort of knowing God is present with us, already puts us in a part of the eternal heavenly kingdom. This eternal kingdom holds us because God hold us in his arms, uplifts us, and share with us an eternal love. Knowing such love establishes in us the sense that God is as in control as God has always been, even when we were unaware.
God’s kingdom is truly eternal, it has been, and always will be. When we become aware of God’s love for us, then we enter in. This kingdom becomes alive in us, and we become truly alive in God’s love. Sharing the truth of this kingdom and it’s love is the greatest gift we receive, and the greatest gift we can offer as well.
Grace & Peace,
Sam