Disappointed with the Kingdom of God?
“He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, Lord, will those who are saved be few? And he said to them, Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us, then he will answer you, I do not know where you come from. Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.â€
(Luke 13:22-30)
Through the years, we have seen people both elated and disappointed with their various experiences in the kingdom of God. Some have expectations of being served, instead of serving; others work themselves into a burn-out and wind up becoming bitter; and, yet others serve with no other agenda than being well-pleasing to God their Father. The story of Luke 13:22-30 uses the phrase, “the kingdom of God†twice. Those seeking to enter, but who are unable to enter, start to present a false picture of their association with the master. The best light they could spin, however, was to say, we know who you are. We saw you teaching in our streets while we dined. All of a sudden, the kingdom becomes gravely important.
The time for seeking is now.
– Robert M. Housby