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Coming to South Africa, one of the first things you'll hear about is the corruption in the government. Many people believe that the politicians and governmental leaders are corrupt and that they steal funds. These accusations have made me think that maybe I should pursue a government position in order to put a stop to this and bring positive change to South Africa.
I have been many things in my life, but a thief was never one of them. So it wasn’t long before I caught myself fantasizing about becoming a politician here. I wondered, how would I lead? Would the people accept me? What change could I create? Then reality came knocking and I remembered, I’m not from here. So the South African government would never accept me, and as much as I might want to fit in as a politician here, I can’t.
When I think about Jesus Christ, I can imagine that He never fit in, either. He had too much humility to only be around the rich, but He had too good of a relationship with God to see Himself as poor. There was no group of people, or worldly class, that He truly belonged to.
One of the reasons the Pharisees hated Him is because He called Himself a King. How could this be true, if He was already living in a kingdom? During the time period that Jesus was alive, there was another person who called himself a king — His name was Caesar. Was Jesus trying to start a coup? Or was He talking about a different system entirely? Also, if Jesus says that He is a king, where did we get religion from?
The truth is, Jesus came to earth to establish the government, or the Kingdom, of God.
His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.” - Matthew 3:2 MSG
Oftentimes, as Christians, we try to infiltrate the world and we are extremely surprised when we don’t fit in. So a thought comes to mind — if Jesus came from Heaven to establish God’s Kingdom on earth, why is the majority of our time spent trying to infiltrate the systems of this world?
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." - John 15:9 KJV
Oftentimes, we come to Christ but then try to make Him fit into the same world that has already killed Him. Why are we heartbroken when prayer is taken out of schools and our jobs ask us not to mention the name of Jesus? Is this not to be expected? If Jesus was loved by the world, why did they kill Him?
"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." - John 15:20 KJV
The truth is, Jesus didn’t die for a religion that we can "add on" to our worldly lives. Jesus died to bring us a completely different way of living.
"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4 KJV
God wants His glory manifested on earth the same way that it is in heaven. If you think about what happened after Jesus died, the first church was a community of people living together and sharing all of their belongings. Does this sound like a religion or a different way of living?
"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet." - Acts 4:32-37 KJV
Until we are willing to put the world and all of its desires behind us, we will continue to suffocate the anointing and glory of God by trapping it in systems designed to destroy it.
"Thus you are nullifying and making void and of no effect [the authority of] the Word of God through your tradition, which you [in turn] hand on. And many things of this kind you are doing." - Mark 7:13 AMPC
The truth is, the garden of Eden was the closest thing to heaven on earth. When Adam sinned, all of that was lost. Jesus died to give us the opportunity to recreate heaven on earth. In order to understand what Jesus came to do, we have to study the lives of believers after He was gone.
After the death of Jesus, the first church came together and no one lacked because they all shared their resources and God was with them daily. Does this sound more like the garden of eden or a religion that doesn't produce any life change?
"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:46-47 KJV
As believers, we often fantasize about how life would have been in the garden of Eden. However, through the death of Jesus, we have received something even greater! The kingdom of heaven: better than any system on earth, a true government where corruption can't change the outcome of our KING.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." - Matthew 13:44-46 KJV
Question of the day: Why are we trying to fit our beliefs into a society that has already killed our Messiah?