Matthew 13:24-33
The city of Carcassonne is a remnant of incredible medieval beauty. A city from ancient times nestled so comfortably in the southern French countryside. The only way to take it over would have been to starve them out, which according to legend Charlemagne did…until he got impatient and gave up.
One of the beautiful, but sadly mistaken ideas of medieval theology was that they thought they could, in their own power, bring about the kingdom of God on earth. Augustine originally wrote of a desire for a utopia of Christendom and his followers began to think that they could make that happen…by force! Their error was that they thought they were bringing the kingdom, but in reality God’s kingdom was already here! The Kingdom of God is here, on earth today! The gospel isn’t a transaction for a future-promise, but an invitation inside a real-time, here today, available now reality! Let’s look at the 3 parables on the Kingdom that Jesus shares in Matthew 13.
The Kingdom of God is Here, Today,
Bart Simpsons once used this exact phrase to describe heaven – fire insurance. The idea is widespread, as people see the Kingdom of God as a future-tense idea. When we get to heaven, or once God is in control again…these are statements that show how prevalent the idea is that heaven hasn’t happened yet, that the Kingdom of God isn’t here yet, isn’t a reality in our day today. This parable disagrees. Many of us naturally assume that the Kingdom of God is a future kingdom, something that has not yet been realized on earth. We do this because the world doesn’t look like the utopia we imagine when we think of God’s full reign. Yet, Jesus is clear in his teaching that the Kingdom came with him and has stayed. Over 100 times recorded in scripture, Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God as a present, real reality. I imagine life back in medieval times would have been intense, but the ever-changing landscape of political and geographical boundaries gives us a better glimpse at the idea of kingdom living today. Yes, we live as citizens of the US, but there are other things happening around us as well. We may be next door to a US neighbor, but there are spiritual things going on in that house! Ephesians 6 tells of that the spiritual world is fully alive and active. Families are breaking apart, people are hurting, children are suffering! The promise of heaven one day isn’t what this world needs – it needs Jesus – today!
Alive and Expanding,
And because He is building His church, the Kingdom is growing. A lot like Carcassonne, in truth…the game, at least, if not the city. Carcassonne is actually also one of my favorite games. The best part is that the board always changes and castles can become any shape, thusly always keeping the game fresh. Jesus said His kingdom would grow in a similar way. Consider Matthew 13:31-32. The castle that is the kingdom of God is a living castle, with walls that grow and expand to make room for any who would seek its protection. Again, this is not the new earth with its walled city and completed construction. This is the Kingdom of God today, in our present reality, growing as Christ continues to build His church. Yet, like in the game, castles can only grow where there’s space. Are you giving God space in and around you to work? Or have you already tried to mortar in your own little area?
Growing Out of Unstoppable Desire.
It’s funny how concrete we make things. Especially plans. It is hard to readjust plans and expectations after your plans change. Even though we may like our little niche in God’s Kingdom, if He grows it around us, we better be prepared to grow with it! Consider Matthew 13:33. This is what God wants for us – to be so filled with desire for Him that the Kingdom oozes out of us just like a virus! Or better yet, like food. If we find a recipe or a dish we love, it’s like its hard-wired into us to share it. There is a passion behind food, a desire, a love for it so strong that we have to experience it together! This is why our family dinners are so much fun and sought after. When we are moved by something, then we are driven to share it. If it matters, we keep pushing it along. When was the last time you were moved by passion to share God’s love with someone? Forcing it out or doing it because we are “supposed to” doesn’t count. When were you compelled by desire to share? To give?
Next Steps
The Kingdom grows, not by exertion of force or will, but by an inability to keep it to oneself. A desire so strong that one can’t help but share of its goodness. That’s the power of the ever present, available now reality of the Kingdom of God! Step into that today!
- Know your neighbors and learn about their current realities.
- Pray and give God space to work growth in you.
- Don’t share the gospel because you should. Seek Him and let it happen.
Forget the idea of future fire insurance and live in the here, today, alive and expanding, growing out of unstoppable desire Kingdom of God!
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