The good news that is found in Jesus goes until the end. True restoration of a world that God created is never done until Jesus returns. But in the meanwhile, we pray that God’s kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven. And we note that Jesus talked about the kingdom is near, and is among us.
What does that mean? Certainly a spiritual appearing. Something that affects us intrinsically (I’m loving that word more and more – those in this community agree that we must change intrinsically – by which they mean working from the inside out – they just don’t agree on the starting point for the inside and who does the changing!). Spiritual change can have an ethereal sense. No material change, no tangible results.
Unless we agree that an inside change has fruit. In which case the kingdom come on earth will mean a holiness in our community. Civility? Perhaps that is a good word. Good? I wonder if Toronto the Good had something to do with God (if you trace this term you will find it does go back to a Christian revival in Toronto). Living by a higher standard? Perhaps that’s why we use a phrase – God keep our land.
Committed to the community. As Christians we are probably the most committed to our community. Now – and in the end when all the nations of the earth gather around Jesus – this is about restoration. Jesus restoring his kingdom – completely at a later date and in seed form now.