I AM WONDERING . . . just what happens when the KINGDOM OF GOD
& THE CHURCH COLLIDE? Some months
ago I heard that statement and jotted it down, but have nothing more to go on
than that phrase. Every time I have come
across my torn-in-half pink sticky-note, those words make me pause. I have not yet had time to do an in-depth scriptural
study of the full meaning behind that, but those words make me want to. My heart for God gives me a clue about what
would take place when that collision happens – but more importantly something
has to occur first to make it happen.
And what is that? I don’t think
the answer is difficult to come up with.
I just think the real-life implementation of it is. And often when there is commitment, hard
work, and some struggle involved – it’s easier to bail than to grit our teeth,
muscle up, and make things happen. Of
course, for the Kingdom of God and OUR church to collide (let’s personalize
it!) – there will be work involved.
There will be commitment involved.
There will be a little (or a lot!) of dirt and scuffs and bruises
involved. But didn’t we mention that it
is a collision? Most collisions result
in some measure of harm or disaster. But
not when God is in the middle of it. Oh,
the bump might be pretty impactful … we might get bounced around a little … or
so much so that we might even wonder if God hasn’t lost control! But in this type of God-collision, the end
result is magnificence beyond our human comprehension! Because breaking this down means that upon
impact, the Kingdom of God and the Church will be meshed, blended, intertwined,
grafted together . . . until the world cannot see where one ends and the other
begins! The Kingdom of God will live IN
the Church – and the Church will live IN the Kingdom of God! We will be indelibly inscribed on each
other. We will look like each other. We will sound like the other. Amazingly, we will act like each other! Not because the Kingdom of God will be
lessened to look like the Church – but because the Church upon collision will
take on all that the Kingdom of God is and reflect it in reality. God’s Kingdom, designed and set into place by
God Himself, is total perfection. The
Church is definitely not. But the Church
is loved by God so much that He desires a relationship that is derived out of
His heart’s longing for His Church to be the bride He has waited for all this
time. Did you know that as the
Bridegroom He is passionately anticipating that electrifying moment in time -
the date He has set to come back for her and snatch her in His arms of
everlasting love and take her Home to live with Him forever and ever? It’s true!
This is no fairy-tale like Cinderella and her Prince Charming. This is for real! And WE are His bride! We all know how much work and preparation
goes into the planning of a wedding.
Well, God has His part all planned – it has been written in His heart
since the beginning of time. His love
for His Church is the ultimate Love Story of all time, because this love will
last for eternity. But dear ones, as His
Church – His bride . . . we have LOTS of preparation to still be done, and we
best get at it! It starts with each of
us, individually, of course. And when
each of us get serious about living out His will on this earth as it is in
Heaven – and then join up in His Church, we will start to look more like the
radiant bride He is excited about coming to sweep off her feet, literally! And when we get serious about doing whatever
it takes to get rid of our spots and stains and blemishes, this old world
having a melt-down around us is going to sit up and take notice. Instead of being disillusioned and
disappointed and bored with His Church, they will be running through our doors
to meet with the King of kings. They
will be searching for the Church that is the living and breathing epitome of
the Kingdom of God. That means we will
preach the Word as it is written in God’s Word.
That means we will receive that Word and obey and follow God’s
ways. That means we will experience
wonders and miracles just like in Jesus’ day.
That means we will hunger and thirst more after righteousness
than after any modern-day entertainment and technology and “stuff” that we seek
after to bring us satisfaction. That’s
right, we are going to BE different, LOOK different, and ACT different than we
do – even today! And in these dawning
days of 2015, we are going to view each new unlived day as God’s opportunity to
us to do whatever it takes to invite the collision of God’s Kingdom and our
church! God’s Kingdom train is coming
our way – my challenge to all of us is to get on board and move towards the
point of impact! Elevation North will
never be the same!
REMEMBER . . .
“Then I heard
what sounded like a great multitude,
like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him
glory!
For the
wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.”
~ Revelation
19: 6-7
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
