For by him [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Col. 1:16, ESV)

In his thought-provoking book, Desiring the Kingdom, James K. A. Smith gives a helpful and broad definition of the kingdom that can apply to all people, not just Christians:

“To be human is to desire ‘the kingdom,’ some version of the kingdom, which is the aim of our quest. Every one of us is on a kind of Arthurian quest for ‘the Holy Grail,’ that hoped-for, longed-for, dreamed-of picture of the good life—the realm of human flourishing—that we pursue without ceasing.”[1]

So the kingdom is that “hoped-for, longed-for, dreamed-of picture of the good life” that gets us up in the morning. It could be God, His description of human flourishing, His dream for our lives, or some substitute, an idol of choice—something that seems right in our own eyes. 

Recognizing that all people pursue some “kingdom,” a big picture that orients their lives, it is important to note that “the theme of the Bible is the kingdom of God.”[2] Australian, evangelical, and Anglican theologian Graeme Goldsworthy defines “kingdom of God” as “the hope or expectation of Israel” that finds its fulfillment in Jesus. 

Continuing this broad sweep showing “the kingdom of God” as the theme of the Bible, Goldsworthy moves to the Scriptures of the first century:

“The New Testament, in declaring the kingdom ‘at hand’ with the coming of Jesus, points us to the fact that there is yet a consummation. But this consummation, such as is described in Revelation 21 and 22, is the outcome of the definitive work of Christ in the flesh, his living and dying….  [Here] the Eden typology is answered in the face-to-face relationship with the Lamb and the Lord God the Almighty (Rev 21:22).”[3]

So the theme of the Bible is the kingdom of God, and “every . . . unfolding of the revelation leads to the Person of Jesus Christ come in the flesh.”[4] It is the Father’s recipe for the “good life”—the only Hope with a capital “H” that will not disappoint—Jesus.

In light of this, how appropriate are these wise words of St. Augustine, which echo throughout the last 1600 years of church history: “Thou has made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”[5] More recently, the late philosophy professor, Dallas Willard, put it this way: “The condition of life sought for by human beings through the ages is attained in the quietly transforming friendship of Jesus.”[6]

I write a lot about friendship with God and fatherhood and it’s fascinating, as the late New Testament scholar George Eldon Ladd pointed out, that “an inseparable relationship exists between the Kingdom of God and His Fatherhood. . . clearly kingship and fatherhood are closely related concepts.”[7]

There are numerous examples of this close relationship (Matt 6:9–10, 13:43, 25:34, 26:29; Luke 12:32), but since the “Lord’s Prayer” or “Our Father” prayer is so well-known, we will look at the phrase “Thy Kingdom come.” Here we pray for the Father to make His plans centered in Jesus a reality on planet earth. Ladd sees this as pointing to the fact that “God is seeking out sinners and inviting them to submit themselves to his reign [kingdom] ….”[8]

What is exciting, humbling, and mind-blowing is that Jesus Christ “loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father”(Rev 1:5b–6a). We have the privilege in Christ of reigning with God and once again being his vice-regents, carrying out His will in this world.

Going back to Genesis, “Humanity is given a twofold cultural mandate: to fill the earth and to rule the creation as benevolent kings (Gen 9:2; Ps 8:5-8; Heb 2:5–9).”[9] Despite the fall, this kingly mandate includes the “enduring command for humanity to develop the potential endowed in creation as service to God.”[10] All humanity, even irreligious people, do this without even being aware of it. They produce great art, beautiful music, amazing inventions, astounding innovations, and other unbelievable creative feats that stretch human potential. Think Van Gogh, Nadia Comaneci, Serena Williams, Elton John, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others. Made in the image of God, they cannot help themselves from doing great things and interacting with the world in astounding ways.

But Christians especially, the ones who celebrate friendship with and claim to follow the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:14-15), should be excited about culture-making and have an ever-expanding view of kingdom work. As Abraham Kuyper famously said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”

Today and next week…

• How will you as a member of Christ’s royal family be an instrument of his pursuing love, mercy, peace, justice, and righteousness?
• How will you as one of His vice-regents develop the potential around you?
• How will you as a “culture-maker” bring creativity, beauty, and greatness to your work?

 

 

[1] James K. A. Smith, Desiring the Kingdom (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009), 54–55.

[2] Graeme Goldsworthy, “The Kingdom of God and the Old Testament” Present Truth 22, accessed November 14, 2016, http://www.presenttruthmag.com/archive/XXII/22-4.htm.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Augustine, Confessions (Indianapolis: Hackett, 2006), 3.

[6]  Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy (New York: Harper Collins, 1998), 124.

[7] Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, 83.

[8] Ibid., 82.

[9] Bruce Waltke, Genesis, A Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001), 67.

[10] Ibid.