The Kingdom of Heaven Page 32

The Sermon on the Mount

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5: 3-10

Do you want to know God?  Then read it yet again with the understanding that this was spoken by Jesus Christ, Son of God….and then look at it like this:  “like father-like son!”    After reading this profound lesson taught by Jesus in what is known as the Sermon on the Mount, lets look for a deeper spiritual application.

 For the sake of making my point today let’s imagine that we each have a boat that is our home.  Let’s use this visual to create an analogy of being tossed around.  How intimidating it is move through the powerful tides of uncertainty and be tossed by the waves of deep waters.  How frightening it is to know that no matter how much we try to steer our lives in the right direction….the consequence of circumstance can knock us off course and try to take us down-even to our death!  

 We don’t want to admit it, but we have limited control as we sail through this world hoping that we’ll receive life’s blessings.  The truth of it is that over and over we’ve seen our fellow sea-goers battling something that looks quite the opposite of blessings.  We wonder if and when it may be our turn to deal with the harshness this natural world forces upon us—for our weary eyes and hearts have seen the turbulence of rough waters all around us. 

Our earth is full of the tempestuous; volcanoes, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods, and fires.  These are the forces that bring us physical calamity.  Then there are accidents and sickness, bad investments and money problems.   These are circumstantial situations that strive to take us down.  Calamity of another kind!   Let’s face it, the happenstance of circumstance is inevitable…and at times we can’t get our footing.  It is then that we realize that we need a harbor, a port of some kind, where we and find solid ground and anchor ourselves in order to stabilize our life. 

 Scripture infers that Christ is a Solid Rock.  (See Matthew 7: 21-27).  Studying and understanding scripture  provides a solid foundation where we can stand in faith, sure-footed.   With this statement in mind let’s envision our sea-sick selves on our water-logged houseboat looking at a rocky point with land beyond.  There is a blessed lighthouse that beckons (this represents Christianity).  Just around the next corner we find a port of solace where we can dock and find stability again!  (This is the stability based on Truth found in scripture).

 In Matthew 16: 15-19 Jesus asks this:

"But what about you?" he asked "who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah,
for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  

 So out of the dreariness of circumstance we are called to a port of faith and into a Kingdom, no less.

Scripture says this in Daniel 4:3
"How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation."

 You see, our water-logged disembarkment is metaphorical.  It is a spiritual exodus from a life that was filled with waves of uncertainty into a life with a sure spiritual foundation-an eternal Kingdom to which we have the keys!  We are invited to move into a house not made by human hands, and live in a kingdom that is noted, by its very own descriptive, as heavenly.  What is required to find this kingdom is faith.  As weary travelers a heavenly kingdom sounds enticing but this port must be mapped out; purposely chosen through faith in Christ-otherwise in cannot be found…. for scripture says this:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11: 6

The Life-lesson is this:  We must decide if we believe He exists or not.  We do know this for sure- our very life is temporary.  With this truth we can comprehend that our spiritual life is what we should focus on, for it is eternal.  Physically, everything we have can be tossed by the waves of circumstance and destroyed.  We know this to be true by simply watching the news regarding recent floods and wildfires.  We can confirm this by looking around and seeing our neighbors and friends fighting to keep their home in this housing market that is ‘under water’.  We know through images of past tornadoes and their devastation, that this earth can twist our lives into nothing.  Our world can be hellish…and sometimes literally screams “there is death to pay”.

We can neither outwit the forces of Nature nor the physical restraints of this world-including death-so we must find another way.  When our earthly possessions are lost we must find who we are from within.   When our heart is broken and not even time can repair it- we must search for something other than that physical organ to sustain us.   When our life on earth is done-we must realize that our spiritual life is just beginning.  While we still walk this earth we have an opportunity to become attuned to what we we’re created to be-a spiritual being who serves a magnificent, eternal God.  Do you believe that? Reflecting over my life I am certain that we’ve all asked ourselves this profound question, at least one time or another, regarding our lives in this world; “Is this all there is?”  I am telling you…it is not! 

Finding stability on earth, whether it is an emotional port of solace or figurative solid ground, is a spiritual quest- one that extends beyond this life!  Our lives will pass away and then what good are our earthly possessions?  Surely beyond the devastation of this world there is something else-for why would the mechanisms of this natural world, including astrophysics, indicate there is?  With this to ponder, let me ask you a few questions:  Do you believe that God exists?   In what have you placed your faith?  On what are you building your future?  Where have you laid your treasure? 

About our earthly treasures and possessions, scripture says this:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth
 where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy
 and where thieves do not break in and steal.
 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6: 19

Regarding our physical lives scripture says this:

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from
God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
II Corinthians 5:1

As an interesting tie-in, scripture says this (about Abraham):

 “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and builder is God.” 
Hebrews 11: 10

I’m taking ancient scripture at its word and placing my treasured hope in heaven.  I’m taking cues from this tumultuous world and am willing to admit that my earthly assets-yes-even my life will pass away.  My hope is in God for I believe that He exists.  My dream is His Kingdom.  May my heart be pure and may I one day see Almighty God.

 “Blessed are the pure at heart for they will see God”
Matthew Chapter 5

Song recommendation:
The Creed
By:  Avalon