I’m coming out of my “just returned from a developing country” coma. One of the stages I always go through is the contemplation phase, what have I just witnessed and what am I suppose to do with what I’ve just seen.
This journey proved no less challenging as I’m faced with questions posted in my recent blog.
Just yesterday, while training for my upcoming trip to Bangladesh, I learned of this concept of living in the Kingdom of God while here on earth. Okay, yes, I’ve been a believer for over 7 years now so I’m a little surprised that this concept hasn’t challenged me before. What is the kingdom of God? Isn’t it heaven? If Jesus was only referring to our after life why does he talk about it as if we enter this kingdom while here on earth. In the face of so much suffering and poverty, it’s a worthy question, where is the Kingdom? Can I really see it here? Can I really experience it while still in this life or do I have to wait to die?
While in Ethiopia I experienced a paradox that I am only just now coming to realize. While traveling through Lalibela we witnessed churches built decades ago out of sculpted rock. These churches are amazing! That people would spend their energy, effort, blood sweat and tears digging these churches out of stone was unimagineable. Then inside the churches were Priests who gave up a normal life to worship God with all hours of their day. Did I “feel” the Kingdom while face to face with them? Did I sense the irrational joy one experiences when they have encountered the grace of God? Not really…..it was just a fascinating encounter with history but not with the living God.
At the end of the trip I met Demo Legesse. Demo was a joy filled man whose disposition could make the most sceptical person smile. His soul permeated hope, faith and love. His smile was an expression of the life that was living from the inside out. He was a man living in light of the grace of God. Demo is living proof that the Kingdom of God is here! Demo has AIDS. Not a lot of hope for the future in that, is there? But instead of giving up and waiting to die, Demo chooses to serve his Lord, Jesus. He shines for it! Demo has mobilized other stigmatized and marginalized people living with AIDS to form a group that together generates income to support the local orphans. Demo is serving others with the life he has remaining.
Demo isn’t waiting to die to live in heaven, he is experiencing it right here on earth!
How about you? Are you living in the Kingdom yet?
