He opens the study, with these words: “Ever since Adam forfeited his rights in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been afflicted with a sense of lostness.”

Not much to add to what he writes; because I think we, all those who follow Jesus, feel the same way.

The Bible texts he refers to, contain some great stuff, and I really enjoyed going over these great verses. I’ve highlighted the parts which point to our promised land. Plus, I’ve also highlighted some of my favourite verses.

I especially like this part of John’s gospel. John 14:1-11 (NIV), Jesus talking to  the disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas  said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip  said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? 

The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.”

In John 15:18-19 (NIV) – we hear Jesus tell us that we are not part of this world: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

Lastly, we are told in the letter to the Hebrews that we are foreigners on earth. Hebrews 11:13-16 (NIV): “All these people (the people of faith mentioned in the Old Testament) were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;  they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 

People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

I really look forward to the time – when I will be ‘at home’ – how about you?

“In the beginning God’s order was called into question by man’s sin, and the result was chaos. God, however, instead of crushing this revolt by force, allowed it to pursue its course and consequences, but also put into operation a plan which would one day bring the universe back into harmony with Himself and, at the same time, demonstrate His own eternal love and true character.”

All of Scripture is one, coordinated description of God’s holy character – it provides us with insights into His nature – so that He may be ‘known’. It’s really wonderful to think that Jesus loves us so much that He would reveal, so much of ‘who He is’ - to His creation; we have a truly amazing God.

Selwyn says something similar, in his conclusion: ” …. (the bible illustrates in a number of ways) that one day the King of heaven would appear and establish His rule in the hearts and minds of men and women. Now that day has come and the promised kingdom is ours. How truly wonderful.”

In 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV), the same truth is captured in these words: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

I think, there is only one response – to declare our praises of the one and only, true God – who reigns forever.

Just, two of the points he made, are:

1. “The truth is that although God originally set up the universe with Himself as its rightful King, the earth has, by reason of Adam’s sin, became a revolted province.”
2. “Despite the rebellion in His universe, God is pursuing an overarching purpose which involves the re-establishment of His kingdom throughout the whole earth by means of the personal intervention of His Son – Jesus.”

In Paul’s letter to the Romans (Chapter 5:12,15-21 NIV), we read: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.

… For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

Clearly, through the work of Jesus many will be made righteous.

Likewise, when we look at part of the text for today, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 (NIV): “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

The main thought I take from the above verses – is that God has established His kingdom – there will be an end to all the evil in this world. Those standing on the firm foundations of His Word, will be members of His holy nation. But those, who grasp hold of, and chase after, the evil desires of this world – will be destroyed.

Where will you be – when the end comes?

The key verse for today’s study is v19, I’ve added the lead-in verse (18), as well: “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. … “.

I think the language is quite vivid, here’s a picture of the devil actively taking away the message – the good news about Jesus. Satan is so determined that no one should hear this message, that he snatches it away – even from those people who don’t understand it. As Selwyn says; ” … many fail to understand the teaching, and the devil uses this misunderstanding an an opportunity to draw people further away from God.”

It’s important to be aware of the active, and deliberate ploys of Satan – to draw people away from hearing the Word of God.

Selwyn continues, with: “Every person longs to find meaning and purpose. Without this, the different parts of their lives feel like loose ends – compartmentalised. People want a goal, something to aim for, to aspire to, something on which to pin all their hopes, desires and dreams. … They are searching for the kingdom of God without being aware that they are doing so.”

In his conclusion, we see the inevitable result of people searching for what they cannot obtain – they want security, prosperity and a future – they seek permanent contentment and happiness. However, their leaders/governments cannot provide what they seek, leaving their people frustrated and angry – wanting change. All, to often, this change comes with bloody revolution and social disruption – and, a new leadership not much different – from what was overthrown.

The kingdom of God provides what each soul longs for: peace, love and the only meaningful reason for ‘existing’ – an eternal relationship with our God.

Your view?

Selwyn writes: “Jesus was saying (Mark 10:35-45): ‘You are called to be leaders too, but unlike the so-called rulers of the nations you are to be leaders who rule by love.’ Those disciples, who imbibed the spirit of their Master, have passed onto us thoughts and principles and teachings …  And those who build on those principles and teachings are citizens of a kingdom that can never be shaken.”

One of the saddest things to witness, are rulers who call themselves Christian, yet their rule/government is devoid of truth and love. There are just too many examples – in today’s world.

Even sadder still, are Christian groups – who have wandered from the teachings of Jesus, in the way they manage their responsibilities – here, I’m talking about the abuse of power (sexual, etc); and their failure to honestly address these types of issues.

Your view?

“Jesus has Himself suffered in this world of sin. Men pierced Him with nails and strung Him up on a cross to die.”

“A Christian woman who lost her husband in the World Trade Center tragedy said: ‘When the news broke that my husband had been killed, a terrible darkness descended on me. But a hand reached out to me in the darkness. It was rough with work at a carpenter’s bench and pierced with an ancient wound.’ “

We have a God who has suffered too, He knows what it is like to be hurt – you, can always trust that Jesus understands your pain in terrible times – and, will reach out to you and help you through the darkness.

It’s what separates our belief in Jesus from other religions – Jesus has experienced our human emotions and felt the pain of isolation, abandonment and torn flesh. There is no other God like Him!

It’s a fact that God allows evil to exist, in His creation. Yet, it’s impossible for God to act in any way, except for our good.

People will face tragedy in their lives.

Selwyn writes: “When God made us as free people – people who could love – there was some risk, for with freedom comes the option of turning away from love and turning instead to hate. … To our minds, power and control are so similar that they tend to merge. With God they are separate. He will never use His power to (totally) control our sinful actions. He will, however, use His power to control the outcome of those actions.”

I’ve inserted the word ‘totally’ (perhaps, not the best word) in the above quote from today’s study. I do this, because I believe that God does limit the evil in this world. For example, there may have been a number of times when we were close to another major war, this time with nuclear weapons; the Cuban missile crises (October, 1062) – comes to mind. There are verses in John’s Revelation, which support this view.

In summary, the first who sinned (Adam and Eve) - had a choice – and the choice centred on their love for God: should they follow His directions; or should they follow their desires. Nothing has changed – it’s still the same basis choice, for all of us.

Do you agree?

It’s centred on Matthew 3:1-2 (NIV): “In those days John the Baptist came … saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ “

As Selwyn states in this introduction: “In both the Old Testament and the New there is just meaning: God’s kingdom is His rule, The kingdom of God is the rule of God – anywhere” (and everywhere).

He brings this point out in plain view, in his conclusion: ” … Jesus proclaimed the kingdom as something that was now present, manifested through His own Person and ministry. … The kingdom came in Him and with Him. And, to belong to Jesus is to belong to the kingdom.”

If, we truly believe that we now belong to God’s kingdom – then we stand on unshakeable ground – the question for you and me, then is: Does the way we live our lives reflect this belief?

Do we constantly worry about the state of this world and what will happen to us; or do we confidently live in the knowledge that we are part of God’s eternal kingdom – and, this confidence in God’s love, is visibly reflected in our relationships with other people? Such that others ask you the reason for your hope!

“The truth that we belong to an unshakeable kingdom must surely be one of the most steadying thoughts we can cling to at this time. I do not consider myself to be a prophet but I predict that in the days ahead we are going to witness the disintegration of many societies where absolute truth and moral order are not priorities.

It is inevitable, for any society not established on principles in harmony with God’s universe is bound to collapse.”

Just pause, for a moment, to think about the great nations of our day; which government/nation has leaders who fully adhere to the principals as laid down by Jesus? All, fall short of the standards set by God – even the very powerful nations, are mostly guided by popular opinion, the pursuit of power and economic dominance. I think we are witnessing the first signs of the disintegration of today’s main ’powers’.

I thought the Professor Drummond’s quote, was good: “If you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness you will still have to face problems, but if you don’d seek first the kingdom of God then you will have nothing but problems.”

The text for reading and meditation, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 (NIV), contains some great verses (Paul, writing to the Corinthians):

• And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom  as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. … My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,  but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
• We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. … However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love him -  these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. …
• The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
• The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

In most countries, a biblical view of life is considered to be foolishness and not relevant to the way a person should live; there is a measure of grief when those who have the mind of Christ see the path the world, in general, is going. Your view?

Selwyn writes: ” … in an age when the kingdoms of this world are being shaken, how thankful we can be that we belong to a kingdom whose foundations can never be moved. That is the unimpeachable promise presented ion our text for today, Hebrews 12:28: ‘Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful … ‘ “

Does the current turmoil – that we hear so much about in the news – turn your eyes and heart towards Jesus; giving thanks that you are a valued member of His eternal kingdom?