The Kingdom is Here

One of the things hard for us to realize is that what God wants us to do is right in front of us.  It is not out yonder in some distant day, or in some place other than where we are in the present moment.  Even if we are making preparation for a mission trip some months from now, the getting ready is not something more important than the getting at whatever is right in front of us.  It is always true that God has plans for us in our future, but it is equally as true that He has plans for us that are as near as our outstretched hands.  

The Scripture speaks of the Kingdom of God being out yonder in the realm of the not yet here, but it also is described as being in the the realm of the here and now, or as the Word says, "in the midst of you."  (Luke 17:21).  It is, therefore, true that there is always Kingdom work in front of us, all around us, and out there in the unseen distance as well.  As one who seeks to live in faithfulness to Christ, we must never lose sight of the present.  The future may be out there as a signpost to guide us in the right direction, but it is in the present that the work of the Kingdom entrusted to us to do is seen.  

I remember those seminary days of the past when I thought that what I was doing in the classroom was preparing me for what God wanted me to do in the future.  Looking back I am sure I must have missed many things He wanted me to do while I was too occupied with getting ready for what might be coming.  It is not in the grandiose that God puts us to work, but in the common ordinary things like visiting the lonely on our street, or making sure that the unlovable people in our circle are loved, or even showing up to give dedicated attention to God in our devotional moments.  The Kingdom is here.  Its work is here.  We live in the here.