Good News Week 36. Good News Of Kingdom Living

I don’t know about you, but I grew up on Switchfoot. They’ve been a constant soundtrack in the background on my life for the last 25 years. Jon Forman is one of the great songwriters of our day. Don’t believe me, check out his solo albums.

One theme that has been constant in the music of Switchfoot is the longing for a better home.

A realization that the world is broken but there is hope in the Kingdom to come.

They’ve always been realists but they've not been nihilists.

The’ve always recognized the vanity, meaninglessness, and emptyness of seeking fulfillment in this world, but that reality has always pushed them to look up, to lift their eyes to the hills from wence commeth their help.

Songs like Meant to Live, Gone, The Beautiful Letdown, Where The Light Shines Through, Where I Belong, I could go on, all reinforce this theme.

In one of their more playful takes Foreman sings

“Gone, like Frank Sinatra, like Elvis and his mom Like Al Pacino's cash, nothing lasts in this life Gone, my high school dreams are gone My childhood sweets are gone Life is a day that doesn't last for long Life is more than money, time was never money Time was never cash, life is still more than girls Life is more than hundred dollar bills and roto-tom fills Life is more than fame and rock and roll and thrills All the riches of the kings end up in wills We've got information in the information age But do we know what life is outside of our convenient Lexus cages? She said, he said, live like no tomorrow Every moment that we borrow brings us closer To a God who's never been short of cash Hey, Bono, I'm glad you asked Life is still worth living, life is more that we are.”

And in a more poetic and hopeful song Foreman sings

“Feeling like a refugee Like it don't belong to me The colors flash across the sky This air feels strange to me Feeling like a tragedy Take a deep breath and close my eyes One last time One last time Storms on the wasteland Dark clouds on the plains again We were born into the fight But I'm not sentimental This skin and bones is a rental And no one makes it out alive Until I die, I'll sing these songs On the shores of Babylon Still looking for a home In a world where I belong Where the weak are finally strong Where the righteous right the wrongs Still looking for a home In a world where I belong Feels like we're just waiting, waiting While are hearts are just breaking, breaking Feels like we've been fighting against the tide I wanna see the earth start shaking I wanna see a generation Finally waking up inside, yeah Until I die, I'll sing these songs On the shores of Babylon Still looking for a home In a world where I belong Where the weak are finally strong Where the righteous right the wrongs Still looking for a home In a world where I belong A world where I belong This body is not my own This world is not my own But I still can hear the sound Of my heart beating out So let's go boys, play it loud! On the final day I die I want to hold my head up high I want to tell you that I tried To live it like a song And when I reach the other side I want to look you in the eye And know that I've arrived In a world where I belong In a world where I belong In a world where I belong Where I belong Where I belong Where I belong Where I belong I still believe we can live forever You and I, we begin forever now Forever now Forever I still believe in us together You and I, we're here together now Together now Forever now Forever now Forever now Forever Forever”

We don’t belong here.

Or rather, what this world has become isn’t the paradise our first parents were placed in.

This world has become a dystopian land of brokenness and false promises.

But the dystopia isn’t the final act.

The problem we find ourselves in is that we try to fit in to the dystopia rather than transform it.

We try to get comfortable in the brokenness rather than speak to the brokeness about the restorer.

We try to find our purpose outside of the paradise we were created for.

We value what we see in front of us more than what we see by faith.

We live for the present but not for the eternal.

This is a problem.

It’s the problem of sin.

It’s the problem of this rebel world.

And in this problem we find ourself.

How do we live?

What do we live for?

Where do we place our hope?

What do we prioritize?

Where is our treasure?

What do we hope in?

Where do we place our trust?

Psalm 20:7–8 (CSB)

Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses,

but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God.

They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand firm.

Those who trust in the powers and priorities of the world will not survive.

We're we hope, who we trust in matters.

It changes how we live and what we live for.

The Rich Fool

It’s this juxtaposition that Jesus points out in a story about a rich fool.

Let’s look together.

Luke 12:13–21 CSB

Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” “Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Jesus - Why do you need me to sort out your inheritance. What you need to do is be less greedy.

And then he tells them a parable, a story.

What’s the point of the story?

Material Treasure doesn’t transfer to the Kingdom unless it’s transfer to the Kingdom first.

But more than that, the point is that anything you have ultimately isn’t because of you.

And if you aren’t generous with what you have God will stop being generous with you.

This rich fool took pride in his wealth, pride is his ability to produce wealth, pride in his ability to secure his wealth, and pride in his ability to rest in his wealth.

Instead of sharing his wealth, greed, he built bigger barns to store more for himself.

He lived as if this broken paradise was all that mattered.

And God judged his greed.

His wealth would be divided up.

His riches would be given away.

His treasure would not transfer to the grave.

“One’s life is not the abundance of his possessions”, Jesus says.

Jesus closes the story with these words, “That’s how it will be for the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not fish toward God.”

The Unbothered Disciple

There’s the juxtaposition.

The Rich Fool and the Unbothered Disciple.

The one who lives according to the broken paradise and the one who lives for the paradise restored.

Theres a contrast.

Look at these words from Jesus...

Luke 12:22–23 CSB

Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.

He says to his disciples...

That so important.

His disciples do not live for the broken paradise.

His disciples do not live according to the rules and priorities of the broken paradise.

His disciples live for the paradise that is to come.

His disciples live according to the Kingdom that has come in Jesus and is yet to come in fullness.

His disciples live in a way that values eternal treasure more than temporary possessions.

His disciples value kingdom currency more than material wealth.

His disciples invest in eternal stock because eternal stocks pay eternal dividends.

Listen to Jesus.

Luke 12:24–34 (CSB)

Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith? Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

“But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Recognize Your Value

Jesus says you matter to God.

You are worth more than the ravens.

More valuable than the wildflowers in all their beauty.

You can be unbothered because you are a of infinite worth to your Creator.

He cares for you.

He provides for you.

He loves you.

You are not a mistake or an accident.

You are valuable.

You have worth.

What makes currency valuable?

It’s value is based in what the authority says its value is.

What makes a used truck worth $40

Because that’s what someone will pay.

You're value is of infinite worth because you were purchased by the blood of Christ.

Created in God’s image.

Your value is tied to the infinite worth of your Creator God.

And you were purchased by the blood of God-Incarnate.

Recognize your value.

Increase Your Faith

Oh you of little faith.

If God cares for the raven and the wildflowers and can rest in his care for you.

Increase your faith.

This broken paradise isn’t your fate.

Increase your faith.

The Kingdom is yours.

Increase your faith.

Your Heavenly Father clothes and feeds you.

Increase your faith.

Seek the Kingdom.

Increase your faith.

The Father delights in you.

Increase your faith.

Live for the eternal Kingdom.

Increase your faith.

Don’t be afraid.

Don’t Be Afraid.

Don’t be afraid.

Sell you possessions.

Give away your things.

If your treasure is in this broken paradise your heart will be in the broken paradise.

If your treasure is in the Kingdom your heart will be in the Kingdom.

If your heart is in this broken paradise your treasure is here and temporary.

If your heart is in the Kingdom your treasure will be with you and eternal.

Don’t be afraid to live for the Kingdom.

Don’t be afraid of this broken paradise.

Store your treasure in the eternal Kingdom.

No thief can steal.

No rust can destroy.

No mothe can devour.

Don’t live in fear of the dystopia.

Live in the faith of the Kingdom eternal.

Trust Your Father

Luke 12:29–30 CSB

Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Your Father knows

Luke 12:31–32 CSB

“But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.

Your Father delights

You can trust your Father.

Don’t be anxious about living in this broken paradise, your Father knows you, delights in you, and has placed you in heavenly places and you belong to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.