Thy Kingdom Come

James 2:26

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You live among a hidden kingdom. Its members are all around you every day. It is a kingdom that defies geographical borders. But without fail, these members of the kingdom, week after week, show their colors. They don their colors of purple and gold. Sometimes they put on these ridiculous looking hats with horns on them, sometimes even paint their bodies and wear these yellow mustaches. Without fail, though, they all gather together around their TVs in their stadium, proudly wear their colors and to cheer on their team.

Now, I don’t know what team you might cheer on, but if I were to tell you that I am a Vikings fan, but I have an outfit and it’s sitting in my closet. But I never wear it. I never gather for games. I never watch games and never cheer for the Vikings. Well, I would be lying to you if I told you I was a real Vikings fan because I’m not really wearing my colors.

This is what the Bible says in James when he says

Faith without works is dead. (James 2:26)

I can’t see a person’s beating heart inside their chest, but it’s really obvious when someone is actually alive and well because they’re doing something a living person does. They’re walking, breathing, talking, interacting with people. The same is true of the Christian faith. We can’t look into a person’s heart and see if there’s truly faith there. But by their actions, by that person wearing their colors and living a Christian life, you can tell if there is saving faith.

This is really important because in American Christianity we live amongst an epidemic of apathy. More and more Christians are telling themselves that I can truly believe in Christ, but I don’t have to live as a disciple of Christ. I can call myself a believer, but I don’t have to attend church or belong to a church. These Christians are deceiving themselves. Like James says, faith without works is a dead faith.

So what is the Kingdom of God? It begins with faith in the heart. But Paul tells us in Romans 15, it is a kingdom of righteousness, a kingdom of peace, a kingdom of joy in the Holy Spirit. It is a kingdom of righteousness. It’s not about our works, but what Jesus has done for us. He covers us with His holy, precious blood. He makes us members of his kingdom through the declaration your sins are forgiven. That truth, that reality gives us peace. Peace knowing we’re going to heaven. Peace, knowing we have a right relationship with God. Peace, knowing that if the worst were to happen to me today, that I confidently can look death in the face and know that my future is certain because I’m going to be in heaven with Jesus.

And that real righteousness that Christ gives you, that real peace that Jesus gives you produces real joy. Real joy that means I can’t let that stay hidden in my heart, but I’m going to wear my colors. I’m going to support my team. I’m going to cheer for the gospel and support the gospel and gather week after week with my fellow Christians to cheer on the home team.

That’s what we pray for when we pray. Thy kingdom come. We’re asking our Lord Jesus to first of all conquer our hearts so that through us he would continue to work his wonders. To continue to spread the gospel and help his kingdom here on Earth grow. So thy kingdom come. Amen.