City Life Starter

Written by Nate Warren

The Word

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV)

For the joy that was set before Him, [He] endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2b (NKJV)

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Revelation 11:15 (NKJV)

Reflection

The first idea Jesus brings to mind as he teaches this parable is the Kingdom of Heaven: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”. This, I believe, is an important clue for us to dig out the meaning of the parable.

That covers an aspect, and an important one, but I think it only gets us started. As we explored during our series on the book of Ephesians this past summer, Jesus launched a cataclysmic reordering of the nature of reality. It changed the fundamental ordering of the spiritual and physical universe to the point that the telling was called an apocalypse. His abdication of his dignity and comfort has made a mockery of all of the futile ways of humanity and its fallen systems of power and coercion. His resurrection from the dead strips them of their power, and proclaims His majesty over all of the heavens and the earth as the Good and Powerful King.

The world is now enabled and beckoned to abandon its cursed ways of existence and give allegiance to King Jesus. In doing so each becomes a subject and beneficiary of the Kingdom of the Heavens.This Kingdom is the joy that was set before Jesus as he endured the cross.  To Him, it was worth everything. His last earthly possessions were distributed among His murderers, He was left with all the dignity of a criminal–mutilated, naked and pinioned to a tree–and He surrendered his last drop of blood. He traded infinite power and majesty for this Kingdom of self-sacrificial love.

Application

You and I can join in the fruits of Jesus’ investment, but we too must count the cost to join this cosmic revolution, the Kingdom of God. Unlike Jesus, we have nothing of eternal value to offer. Still, we must choose to let our life, according to the world’s standards, be lost for the sake of this treasure, Jesus and His Kingdom. 

Prayer

Father in Heaven,

Thank you for the wonderful Kingdom of God and for the invitation to reign, beginning today, with our Lord Jesus for eternity. May you grant us the wisdom to see the folly of anything else we could hold onto, and the courage to let it go for the sake of life with You.
In the Name of our King Jesus, and in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Amen