Kingdom Building
August 22, 2019
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:18-29
You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.’ Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ‘I tremble with fear.’) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. –Hebrews 12:18-24
The author of Hebrews draws pictures to aid our imagination regarding the Kingdom of God. I see them in movie format. The author, we do not know who he or she was, portrays a terrifying picture of darkness and blazing fire and trumpets and death when describing Moses’ experience on Mount Sinai. I imagine light as I read about the once and future Kingdom of God with angels in a festal gathering at Mount Zion. This picture illustrates the judge of all not at all threatening among the spirits of the righteous made perfect. A new covenant mediated by Jesus brings about justice even greater than the justice that Abel deserved after his death at his brother’s hand. It is this kingdom we are charged to live into in the here and now with the promise of its attainment.
The early Christians suffered much persecution and that promise meant a lot to them I am sure as it does for us today. It is not the promise that if we are good, we will get a treat. It is the promise that good will overcome evil and God’s justice will reign on throughout the lands. We live in a dark, sometimes gloomy uncertainty at times where we may lose sight of the promise of justice made real. Our part is to live God’s love no matter what and God is taking care of the rest. When we get discouraged, we should remember what Margaret Mead said: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. I always think of Jesus’ disciples when I read that. We are those disciples today.
It only takes a spark
To get a fire going
And soon all those around
Can warm up in its glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You spread His love to ev’ryone
You want to pass it on*
Prayer: Lord, help us see the light that supersedes all darkness as we strive toward your vision for our world. Amen.
*First verse of Pass it On see at https://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/pass-it-on/
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.