Building the Kingdom of God; Creating / Creation

May 3

Read: Genesis 1:28, John 10:10

Building the Kingdom of God;

Creating / Creation

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:28)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” - Jesus (John 10:10)

The Kingdom of God is a place that is marked by creativity… by creation. As image bearers of the one and only creator - God most high - we reflect that image when we are creative. We see this in what God says to humanity at the very beginning of the bible:

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  (Gen. 1:28)

The “fruitful filling” of the world and “multiplication” of God’s “good” creation is at the core of our birthright as image bearers of God. God builds up. God improves. God grows. We are called to the same. This is what the Kingdom of God looks like - a place of building, improvement, growth, and creativity. The early church fathers had a set of ideas regarding the work of the Kingdom of God: True work means that you make it, you move it, or you improve it.

The Devil’s domain is exactly the opposite. His competing world or framework is actually one of consumption and destruction. Jesus tells us as much in John 10:10:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

The end goal of the devil… the thief… the dragon of old is always and only destruction. The cohorts of the devil - sin and death - work towards the same end. The realm of the devil is a place that tears down, breaks apart, is the antithesis of the Kingdom of God. The devil’s deception the promise of “something for nothing”. His system is one of usury … it is built on taking and destroying not creating. It is a system that denies the GOODNESS of honest labor - of "making, moving, or improving”. The devil’s system steals… leaves you empty… and takes advantage of others. To put it simply - using the words of Jesus: the Domain of Darkness is destruction and the Kingdom of God is creative abundance.

This means building the Kingdom of God includes the material world much more than we realize. It is often overlooked that our work in this world is actually very much a part of building the Kingdom. When we make, move, or improve - we are reclaiming once again the God-given mandate and birthright from the garden of Eden. This is why Paul declares:

“…Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Col 3:17,23,24)  // and // “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)

The very real and pragmatic work that we do as the people of God is truly building the Kingdom of God. Providing for one another is tangible and real ways is genuine Kingdom building. When we change oil, or paint, or write, or farm, or grow, or teach someone to read, or repair the widow’s roof, or build a new house, or bake, or sew… this is building the Kingdom of God as much as when we share with someone else the message of Jesus and they enter into the Kingdom as followers of Christ. The practical care of one another and the creative work of the people of God puts on display the Kingdom of God to the world around us. This is truly building the Kingdom in a practical sense. Remember that as you head out the door this morning. Love you guys! - JDP