Long Beach (near the Washington side of the Columbia River) is the longest beach in the world. I was today years old when I found that out. I have even been there and didn’t know just how hallowed the sand was that squished between our toes.
When our family went to play there a few years ago we found out two interesting facts:
it is forbidden for people to get in the water because of the rip tides. (What is a beach without being able to get in the water?!)
Two, contrary to what I expected, the water isn’t eroding the beach, but building it. The rip tides both threaten swimmer’s lives and create more beach for those swimmers to enjoy.
Slowly, but surely, the beach is encroaching on the water’s territory.
Jeff Christopherson said (my paraphrase) that the kingdom of God is the realm in which King Jesus gets his way. We can tell when Jesus’ kingdom comes when what he wants to happen in the lives of people happens.
When families are drawn back to each other through repentance and forgiveness.
When the “prodigal” comes to his senses, comes home, and enjoys the Father’s love more than the fleeting pleasure of sin.
When the weapons we use to force our will on others through war are reshaped into tools to create and sustain the fullness of life for people.
When the poor have both the resources and the desire to live in community with people rather than the margins.
Many days, I feel like that those days are not coming, but Jesus promises that they are.
His kingdom is not a kingdom of this world (not of the same nature of this world) and it is not as visible as the powers that oppress people and keep us tempted to love sin, but- and this is a huge deal- Jesus’ is bringing his kingdom everyday.
Like the rip tide building the beach, Jesus is creating a realm that wasn’t there before. Wave by wave he is creating a world in which we his heart and his ways are being lived out in real life. I long to be more and more a part of that world.
Let’s live that kind of life out, together.