The Coming Realm Has Come

It’s hard to believe what Jesus says. He says in Luke 4:14-21 that the Poor hear good news, the captives are released, the blind receive sight and the oppressed go free. I believe it, but God help my unbelief. Jesus declares that what he said a couple thousand years ago was fulfilled right then and there. In my believing state, I can say it became true then and is true now; everywhere, all around us, all across the globe, healing and freedom are happening, all the time.

It’s true, of course, except when it’s not true. And that is where we come into the picture. We actually have the power to be agents of healing and freedom, or to limit what God can do because of our disbelief or reticence. It takes real, true faith. Let us long for it, seek after it, pray for it and welcome it into our lives. Then we can see the gospel happening everywhere.

We can participate in the redemption of humankind. We can see to the rebuilding of Haiti, perhaps this time without the oppression we and other countries inflicted upon it historically. We can heal racial divides in our own schools and communities. We can share our money and food so all people can eat and have the basics of life. We can cooperate with the liberating, life-changing Spirit of God that happens everywhere, all the time.

Comments

[Dick Petermann]

The Coming Realm Has Come: If this title is the statement that is being made, then a sense of unity fills me with the thoughts shared in the first paragraph... but I seem to struggle with the statement "It's true, of course, except when it's not true." I realize that at times I allow my mind to wave back and forth like the branches of a tree tossed by the wind, but during those times I am again reminded of Romans 12:2, to be open to God's transforming spirit within me... not to struggle as if it were up to me to achieve greater or stronger faith, or have to study more, or have to serve more... but to merely cooperate with the "liberating, life-changing Spirit of God at all time"... and then I "see the gospel happening everywhere." Thanks be to God.