Here's a question for you: What is THE most important thing going on in the world right now? If you think about it, there must be something going on right now that has more significance than everything else. But what might it be? The war in Iraq? The presidential election campaigns? Perhaps, somewhere in the world, an inventor is working on some new, revolutionary product that will drastically change some aspect of the world as we know it today.
While all of these things have significance, I don't believe any of them are even close to the most important thing going on in the world right now. No, the most important thing happening right now is something most people can't even see: it's the advancement of God's Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven. I would challenge anyone to come up with something more significant than that.Now I would guess that most people are kind of vague on the whole notion of "The Kingdom of Heaven" and I must admit that I am no expert myself. But we can look and see what Jesus said about it. One of the points that Jesus preached was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matt. 4:17 NIV). Other translations read, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Either way, there is great urgency in this statement.
The Jews had been waiting for the Messiah to usher in God's kingdom, but they thought it would be a physical one that would dethrone the Roman Empire. Instead, Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed. It starts out very small, but grows into this large plant (Matt. 13:31-32). The Kingdom isn't just coming sometime in the future at the end of the world, it's coming now and has been coming for the past 2000 years. Jesus started it with His ministry here on earth and has been continuing the process through the disciples and the Church.
Over the past two millennia, history has seen the rise and fall of many kingdoms, empires and nations. But God's Kingdom has steadily continued to grow and expand and it will never be overthrown. The message of the Gospel continues to travel throughout the world as it reaches the most remote peoples and, after 2000 years, still has the power to change hearts. Year after year more and more followers have put their faith in Jesus Christ and devoted themselves to advancing his Kingdom here on earth.
If Jesus' earthly ministry had taken Him to the Swiss Alps, He might have told this parable to the local residents: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like an avalanche. It begins with a small vibration, but builds to an unstoppable force."
The Kingdom is coming even now. Even though it is a process, eventually it will be complete. Where do you want to be standing when all is said and done? Do you want to be one of those who was advancing the Kingdom of Heaven? Or do you want to be known as one who was standing its way? Remember, in a spiritual battle there are no civilians.
