Two brothers visited the United States with their spouses. The older brother set up shop, had a family, and settled down. He became a student of the culture and he and his family devoured it. They learned the language, forgot their old outdated customs even changing their way of dress. Soon they blended and he applied for a green card.
The younger brother remembered it was only a temporary situation. He settled enough to have a family but, always spoke of their true home to his children. After all they had never been there. Not, only did he speak of it to his children but, to people around him. The connection to his homeland was so strong within him it could not be snuffed out by anyone. Being around him was to breath in the younger brothers culture. Unlike his older brother he never forgot his current residence was only temporary. He knew he would one day be going home.
The amazing thing about the idea of the kingdom of God is that it doesn't just exist after we die. It exist now, today. We as Christians are citizens of the kingdom of God. I have to admit somedays I am like the older brother breathing in the culture changing my ways to fit the world around me. Other days I am like the younger one focusing on the eternal kingdom. But, to be able to do that all the time we have to have the mind set of "Thy Kingdom Come".
A simple word search in the book of Matthew shows the word kingdom 53 times. I'm thinking this is a concept we should be getting our heads around. The thought that our body was made for the moment but our hearts and souls for eternity. Part of living for an imperishable kingdom is breathing in our own "culture". Do we even know our own culture? Most of all, are we afraid to live it out?
The best place to start is in God's word. If you want to know God's customs and ways of doing things seek him out. Then, let's not be afraid to live it out. Remember you are a daughter of the king.
No comments:
Post a Comment