Your inch of mortar between the bricks of the kingdom

There’s push in some Christian circles, and you can see it on TV sometimes, to do what’s called ushering in the kingdom. This can be expressed in various ways. Sometimes it is termed as taking dominion or some variation on Christian establishing governance of some sort.

Such a mindset can be tempting from a desire to see peace in the world, but unfortunately the usual outcome is an over-pouring of ego. Rather than being content to humbly do a small, unsung  part in building the kingdom of God, people end up wanting a position of glory and accolades during their life time. They want to be there when every knee bows and every tongue confesses, not realising the enormity of such a task and how small any contribution they can make is in the scheme of things. The irony is rich if these people are the same who decry the state of the world as it is right now.

Every Christian that has toiled in lifetimes past without ego regarding the kingdom has added their small inch of the mortar. As the structure has grown the ability to differentiate one person’s efforts from another has grown ever more difficult. There’s no staking territory with a flag, there’s no plaque on any bricks for anyone to lay a claim to. We have come this far, and there is still far to go. Many are those who cry for aid but shy away from the kingdom because we have not yet built the kind of trust that gives people the faith and freedom to ask.

Rather than looking to rush the matter on our timetable so we can enjoy the moment as we wish, perhaps we should just redouble our efforts, even in relative anonymity, knowing that in the fullness of time God brings such things to fruition in conjunction with our humble, faithful service according to God’s will. As small as our inch of mortar may be, that inch has still taken a lifetime, so while being humble and anonymous it is still no small thing.

Rather than being concerned with the spoils of governance or dominion, perhaps we should shy away from such desires in favour of focusing on the real needs that people in our communities have now. There is still so much undone that needs attending with a focus on love rather than a focus on what we get out of it, which we shouldn’t desire beyond improving ourselves to improve the lives of others anyway.

We are building towards a greater goal, but lets not over-blow our place in history and look to force the issue now. If the time has come, let it be evidenced through God’s action, rather than forced through human manufacture, which is futile for such a task anyway.