Sometimes it seems helpful to codify what we really believe about God. While God’s Word provides us with numerous descriptions of His Kingdom, over the years I’ve found it helpful to define what I believe in the form of images that come to mind as I reflect on my experience, what I’ve truly taken to heart, and live within. So, for whatever its worth, for whatever you may glean from it, below is a set of five images or stories that answer: To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? Who is this God? How do I relate to Him? What is the paradigm within which my life is couched?
A Vast Mud Pit: To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God that I know is like a vast mud pit. A vast mud pit you say? Yes, I know it well. It’s where I and others have lived most of our lives. We are spread out and don’t speak with each other. Donkeys come into the pit to deliver materials for making bricks. Down on all fours, with head bowed down, covered from head to toe with mud, straw and dung, this is where I labor hard every day. I work slowly now as I am tired and my back aches. One day, a man, dressed in a burlap-like robe stepped down into the muck and mire, knelt down in the mud in front of me, lifted my downcast face to His, wiped the filth and dung from my eyes and said to me: “You are precious in my sight. There’s nothing you can do that can break the power of my love for you. I’ll never stop loving you. I’ll never stop believing in you. I’ll never stop wanting what’s best for you. I’ll never stop loving you. I’ll find a way to bring you home. I promise! Just keep your eyes fixed on me. Don’t forget!” After that, I hung my head low again, and when I looked back up, He was gone and I wondered…
A Slave Trader’s Market: To what shall I like the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God that I know is like a slave traders market. There’s a rough wooden platform set along the shore of a cove by the ocean. It’s where I and many other slaves are brought to be sold. There’s a ship in the harbor behind us. I and other slaves are in shackles and made to take a place on the platform to be viewed and bid on. On the day I was brought there, I stood in the hot sun all day, waiting for my name to be called and for people to bid on me. After all the other slaves were sold, I found myself alone, never having been put up for sale. As I wondered why, the pirate captain that owned me came by and motioned for me to follow him. Just as I turned to follow, a Gentleman came upon us, looked at me and the pirate, and asked “How much for this one?” The pirate looked at the Gentleman, and after a brief pause said “Arrrgh. You don’t want this one. He’s lazy and shiftless. No good for Nothing! He bites and he Runs Away! Arrrgh!” The Gentleman said softly, “I know. How much?” After a pause the pirate held up three crooked fingers and growled, “Arrrgh, three gold guineas, Arrrgh.” The Gentleman reached down into his coat pocket, pulled out a small pouch, bounced it in the palm of His hand, and with the clang of coins handed it to the pirate. The pirate growled, felt the weight of the bag in his palm, hurriedly pulled out one of the coins, bit it, and approvingly growled “Arrrgh”. The Gentleman asked for me to be unshackled, so the pirate motioned for one his crew to unlock my chains and leave me with my new owner. The Gentleman smiled at me and motioned for me to follow him. As we walked away, and down a trail, I shuffled along like I was still wearing those chains; I’d been wearing those chains for so long that I’d mostly forgotten how to walk with a normal gate. The Gentleman said, “Come walk beside me”. As I caught up to him, now just very slightly behind, He said to me “Tonight you will dine with me…… But first you must take a bath.” With a gentle smile he said “You stink.” Afraid to look him in the eye, I glanced over at him, and wondered…..
The Valley of The Jolly Green Giant: To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God that I know is like the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant. The Jolly Green Giant towers high above the valley floor, and is even taller than the surrounding mountains. All I can see of Him are His huge green feet. There are many kinds of vegetables in the valley, but I’m a sweet pea. I and some of the other vegetables like to run around His feet and sing and dance and do cartwheels and happily yell up to Him, “Hey look at me!” While I can’t see His face, I know His voice, especially because He likes to say “Ho, Ho, Ho!” While His voice is strong and deep, it never frightens me. It’s usually sunny in the Garden, but every now and then, a wolf emerges from out of a woods on the edge of the valley. The wolf sneaks into the garden and bites and shreds the vines. Many vines are ripped and the vegetables cry out and are afraid. I and some of the other vegetables run behind the feet of the Jolly Green Giant. The Jolly Green Giant bends down and with the flick of His finger sends the wolf flying out of the garden and back into the forest. Then I and the other vegetables rejoice, go back to singing and dancing and doing cartwheels before the feet of the Jolly Green Giant.
Compassion In Action: To what shall I like the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God that I know is like my big sister visiting a checkout lady at her local grocery store. While my sister and I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, I recall the story of how she befriended one of the grocery store checkout ladies. One day she heard that the grocery store was being bought by a large chain and that many of the employees were going to be let go. Knowing that this particular checkout lady lived alone, was poor, and had no family, she decided to write the corporation buying the store. She told them what a good employee the checkout lady was and that they ought to keep her. A few months later, after many of the other employees at the store were let go, the checkout lady my sister befriended was still at her job. One day a few weeks before Thanksgiving she invited the checkout lady to her home for Thanksgiving dinner and spend the day with her and her family. The checkout lady thanked her apprehensively. The shy checkout lady never did show for Thanksgiving. With Christmas fast approaching my sister bought a bunch of presents for the checkout lady. A few days before Christmas, my sister brought two large shopping bags filled with gifts to grocery store. As she walked into the store, she approached the checkout lady with a broad smile and kind eyes, and handed the bags of gifts to the lady so in need. Walking back to her car she thought, “My husband is going to kill me”.
Sometimes the Valley is Long: To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God that I know is like a hike down a long valley. A good friend is with me that says, “Come-on! You and me, Let’s Go!” I’ve been blessed to make it to the top of a few high peaks, though I lament not having made it to more and even higher peaks. It seems my days of reaching high summits has mostly passed. The journey now is down a long valley, and though my friend is with me, it often feels like a long, lonely, slog. We pass several other travelers, greet them with smiles, offer a few encouraging words, and share with them anything they might need. Like most hikes in the mountains, there are lots of ups and down, and my vision is often obscured by trees and false summits, that aren’t summits at all. Unlike other journeys in the mountains, I’m not nearly as fit as I used to be, nor am I striding with confidence. Thankfully my friend is strong, knows the way and has ample supplies. While I’m sometimes a little anxious, much more so than I used to be, my friend’s quiet confidence, encouragements, nudges, and His steady helping hand over and around big rocks and precariously narrow parts of the trail keeps me moving forward.
Unlike earlier hikes, when I moved fast and pushed hard to make it to the summit and back again before nightfall, and notch another big accomplishment, this hike is more of a journey than an achievement. The value of this journey has been taking in the beauty of the forests, the few good words I can offer others, and watching my friend shine. While I’d like to describe our hike further, all I can testify to is the beauty of the world we’ve been given, the goodness of my friend, the clear help He is to me and others, and that to whatever extent I’ve played a part, that’s been my only lasting satisfaction. While I don’t know how much further I can make it down this valley, having given this hike my all, struggling to press forward, I’m still in the woods, and my friend is still with me.