It (meaning everything) has always only been about
redemption – a repair of brokenness through reconciliation to God. The Lord’s plan, set into
immediate motion at the time of Adam’s sin, is to return His people to our place
in the Garden of Eden.
(Interestingly, in its Hebrew origin: “Eden” = “Delight”). Eden was the place of divine relational
delight, experienced within the perfect boundaries of God’s Kingdom on
earth. Within the confines of The
Garden, there was unblemished love and intimacy reciprocated. The man, Adam, lived in harmony with
his Creator under His established rule.
It is God’s will that His kingdom is established on earth,
today (as it is in heaven, and as it was in the Garden). This requires much from us - obedience,
responsibility, discipline, love.
And so I’m learning that it isn’t about getting spiritual; it’s about
getting holy. He said, “Be holy for I am holy”. This holiness, different
from righteousness, is inextricably linked to purpose – we function in His
purposes as we are conformed to His own image, through obedience. While the literal Eden was forfeited
through Adam’s disobedience, we are given the opportunity to construct a new
kind of Eden through our obedience.
His kingdom, when established through the holiness of His people,
creates an environment (like Eden) where love and intimacy abound. In this place, redemption is not only
made manifest, but is accessible and even attractive to the world. It’s a curious thing…a people
experiencing wholeness and fulfillment and divine delight through a willing
submission to an unseen Kingdom’s authority.
God’s desire is to redeem, and He is inviting us to be a
part of the process. Every word we
speak, and every action we perform can cultivate the atmosphere of His kingdom
and set the stage for the supernatural redemptive work of His Spirit in the
lives of those around us. I’ve
begun asking God this question regarding those I meet: “What does this person
need to get to the place where they will be repaired/redeemed by You?” In my experience, He has been faithful
to answer this sort of willing-vessel prayer. We are then blessed with the opportunity to obey, our
neighbor is given a glimpse of God’s heart towards them, and God’s Kingdom is
established in our midst.
“It is God’s will that none should perish”. So, if we take seriously our call to
co-labor with The Lord to bring His kingdom to earth and His redemption to the
world, it should cause us to seriously consider our methods and roles in helping this become a reality...that our lives (and not just our words) would exclaim, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven".
