The Kingdom of God is like a child before Christmas
Reflecting on the Christmas traditions of my family, I remember the great period of anticipation that was the time from when school let out for Christmas vacation until just before opening presents on Christmas morning. And for me, that time on Christmas morning was excruciatingly delayed. Although I was able to “get my stocking” at 6am Christmas morning, no Christmas presents could be opened until my room was clean, my teeth were brushed, the entire family had a sit-down breakfast, the breakfast dishes cleared and cleaned, and there was not a speck of dust anywhere in the house. Oh, and then dad would take pictures of us kids for 30 minutes. Then, usually around 10:30am we began opening presents.
Is this not what the Kingdom of God is like? (Matthew 13:44) Like a child anticipates the wonderful surprises of Christmas gifts–things wished for, things hoped for, things to bring great joy and satisfaction–we are called to anticipate the Kingdom of God. Further, the end result of the Kingdom of God promises me life everlasting, unlike a Christmas toy that loses my interest in only a matter of days.
Is this child-like anticipation what we are called to when we think about the Kingdom of God? (Mark 10:15)
And perhaps the greatest difference between me anticipating Christmas and me anticipating the Kingdom of God is that once the Kingdom of God is fully realized, I won’t be playing with the cardboard box it came in.
Dave Stone @ December 19, 2006