This weekend Pastor Dave spoke about the “messiness” we experience as human beings – in our own lives, in our church, and in our world – and how that “messiness” can actually be a gift that points us to the grace of God.
Christians struggle with messiness because somewhere along the line we embraced a picture of a Jesus who would turn us into perfect people, unpolluted by the world or our own sin. But he didn’t.
For whatever reason, Jesus didn’t choose to instantly sanitize the whole lot of us.
The core of Jesus’ gospel seems to be the Kingdom is arriving. But what does that mean?
At times, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom as something present that we can experience now. Other times he speaks of the Kingdom coming in the clouds at the end of time. Well, which is it?
Scripture has us expecting an actual reign by an actual king who will bring tangible changes. Freedom from oppresses, Justice and Dignity for all people. The world will finally know the one true king.
When Jesus walked the earth he announced that the Kingdom of God had arrived, but he also explained the nature of its arrival. He said the kingdom is like a mustard seed, which, over time, will grow into an incredible tree.
He simply invited his followers to recognize the Kingdom amidst the mess, embrace it and join in with what the Father was already doing.
There are times when we seem to experience the Kingdom better than others. As I reflect on the Gospel story during the Christmas season, I am filled with much hope. However, there are other times when I question and begin to doubt everything.
I was reminded of a quote from G.K. Chesterton this week. He says that hope is much more than just a feeling; it is a virtue and a strength.
“Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all...As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.” - G.K. Chesterton in Signs of the Times
As followers of Christ our hope is based on the reality of the Kingdom of God – which continues to grow and expand out of the messiness of our world.