This is not my home

 

 

READ Luke 13-16

Dory (not her real name) is from another culture on the other side of the world. She has trouble understanding our norms and we are puzzled by some of her ideas. As I read Jesus’ descriptions of His kingdom, I realize how odd Christian thinking could appear to those outside of it. We live in this world but are not of it. His ways are contrary to the world’s culture. Today’s reading gives some examples:

In God’s kingdom, sin is not measured by degree. Everyone is called to repentance, regardless of what they have done. “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:4–5) But God gives many second chances (Luke 13:7–9), something worldly cultures seldom do.

In the Kingdom, Sabbath represents ceasing our own efforts to please God and resting in what Christ has done, yet we are also to do good work in our ‘day of rest’ meaning our entire Christian life. “ . . . Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” and “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” (Luke 13:14–16; 14:3-6) These ‘works’ are not to earn salvation but to show God’s loving heart to others.

This kingdom will grow naturally and cannot be stopped. “It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches” and “like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” (Luke 13:18–21)

There is no hierarchy in God’s kingdom for “some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:29–30) “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:10–11) We are to invite everyone into it, including “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” yet realize not everyone will come. Some will make excuses. (Luke 14:13–2)

Those who do come will realize this is a costly decision for it means abandoning all else to serve Christ. “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26–33)

Kingdom citizens will befriend those that others reject and rejoice when sinners repent rather than cling to any ‘self-righteousness’ and think we do not need to repent. We know “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:1-10)

Those who come to Christ realize no one is worthy, whereas there will be others who are ‘religious’ and resent those who are truly in the kingdom. Jesus illustrated this in the story of the prodigal, and the reaction of his brother when he came home. (Luke 15:19–30)

In God’s kingdom, faithfulness is measured first by little things honestly done and by being trustworthy with what belongs to others. (Luke 16:10–12) God considers how we need to learn gradually.

He also knows we cannot serve Him and money. Kingdom hearts are fully devoted to Him, unlike the culture where wealth is a priority. “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13)

In fact, all values in God’s kingdom are opposite to what the culture values: Jesus said, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)

We think differently about everything, including fidelity in marriage, obedience to government, how to raise our children, and how to treat others. Our response to God’s Word and to the resurrection is not the same as those outside the kingdom. Jesus even said, ”If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31)

Lesson: Do not be upset when people misunderstand me or my motivations for doing things, or treat me as if I live on a different planet because in one sense, I do; my home is not here. I am a citizen of heaven and in this life, I am just passing through.