THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

"This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be
Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in
heaven." - Matthew 6:9-10

Imagine that you have never driven a car. You are not aware of all the
features of a car. Up to this point, you have had to walk everywhere you
go. All you are told is that you are about to receive something that
will get you anywhere you need to go. The day arrives and you are given
a brand new car. You get in and drive the car. However, the emergency
brake is on, preventing you from going faster than 20 miles per hour. No
one tells you that you should unlock the brake. Regardless, you are
excited because you no longer have to walk to your destination. You are
not told that the car has lights, which would allow you to drive at
night. Neither are you told about the many other wonderful features of
the car. You just know you have a new car that will get you anywhere you
want to go at 20 miles per hour. For the rest of your life, you drive
this incredible car during the daytime only at 20 miles per hour.
Why would Jesus pray that things in earth would be like they are in
Heaven if it were not possible? When Jesus came to earth, He came in
order to penetrate the very kingdom of darkness with light. He came to
bring healing to sickness, replace sadness with joy, and fill
meaninglessness with purpose. He came to change things for the better
for a world that had no hope outside of God.
Using the illustration above, Jesus did not come to merely give us a
ticket to Heaven (a car that you drive only in the daytime at 20 miles
per hour). He came to bring us much more-the Kingdom of God on earth.
Nowhere in the Bible will you find the term, gospel of salvation. The
Church does not exist for Heaven, but for earth. If it existed only for
Heaven, then each of us would immediately be taken to Heaven. There
would be no reason for us to remain on earth. So why has God allowed us
to receive this new birth and remain on earth? It is so that we might
bring the Kingdom of God into our world-our families, our workplace, and
our communities.
God wants you to bring the Kingdom of God into the territory He has
given you so that His will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Your
domain is your workplace, family, and community. Ask God to show you how
He wants to penetrate the darkness of your domain with His light. Then
you will see and experience all the features of this gift that has been
given to you.