Day 12: On Earth as it is in Heaven
We often refer to our prayers as “rising up to heaven,” but in a very real sense, this line of Jesus’ prayer reminds us that “prayer is the conduit through which the power of heaven is brought down to earth.”*
This image of God's kingdom coming down is biblical, and yet still many Christians believe they will need to escape the earth and flee to some pearly-gated Heaven to experience "the Kingdom." For decades Christians have sung things like "This world is not my home," "I'm just passing through," and "Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away." In the opinion of many, this "escaping the earth for heaven" theology has gone a long way in tearing down the biblical mandate of earth keeping as given by God to mankind in the beginning.**
But I digress.
Jesus' words here expose the fallacy in this escapist kind of thinking. He encourages his disciples not just to look forward to a day when they'll flee the earth to a place where God's will is done...rather he instructs them to pray that God's will be done here on earth, as it is in Heaven. It's important we understand that the Kingdom we are asking to come is not a physical, political rule...it's a spiritual kingdom, and yet it comes with real earthly impact.
In the gospels, the coming of the Kingdom is the thing Jesus talks about more than anything else. Everything He does and says flows out of this idea that the kingdom had come.*** Which must've been so confusing to his jewish listeners who were experiencing the real life struggle of Roman occupation. If the kingdom had come, why were so many of them living in poverty? Why were they so heavily taxed? Why were they still oppressed by the Empire? Why wasn't Jesus standing up to Caesar?
I guess that's just it. Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom...not an empire. And so His followers were to understand that even in the midst of government oppression, lack of freedom and real economic struggle, they could experience and live by a different kingdom charter; love, joy, peace, humility, trust, gratitude...regardless of earthly politics.
Jesus gives his disciples this line of the Lord's Prayer as an invitation for the Father to flood the earth with the fullness of his love, joy and peace. And it's not just some spiritual platitude but a powerful plea with real implications for our earthly life. This is the stuff of Old Testament prophets calling for rending of the heavens and shaking of the earth, it is a bold ask that God would work new creation into our old systems of being and restore that which is broken. It's about what God wants done actually transforming the earth...our lives, our family our friends, our workplaces, our communities...
Because that's what happened to Jesus' disciples. They took this to heart and they did live out this kingdom despite the current political system. And you know what? It made an earthly difference. People experienced the generosity of others, widows were cared for, everyone had what they needed, and the book of Acts says that, "they enjoyed the favour of all the people."*** * They became the best neighbours to have, the kind that make your street the best place to live. Even high ranking Roman Centurions saw this kingdom lived out and wanted in(see Acts 10)!
It's common to hear Christians today talk about "building the kingdom" or "bringing the kingdom." Usually this is expected to happen through dynamic speakers and passionate worship services, but it's also often connected to committing to social justice issues and trying harder to live as good neighbours. However, if our understanding of the kingdom actually comes from what Jesus says about it in the gospels this doesn't exactly fit, because we don't build or bring the kingdom. Jesus did. And he's still doing it. But don't think this leaves us no share in it...our responsibility to the kingdom remains. We see it as most valuable, we ask for it, we receive it, we live in it. We show up in this world as citizens of another and little by little the will of our King is done here on earth as it is in Heaven.
For now. It's important to remember that we still live in the "not yet," and that there will come a day when Jesus fully rules and reigns all creation, when the dwelling place of God is visibly with man and all is turned to right in the fullness of His presence. That Kingdom will come. That is the will to be done ultimately. Here on earth.
Have you seen this happen in your life? Has the kingdom come, has his will been done...have you seen it play out here on earth? Are you more joyful, kind, at peace than you were last year? Can you breathe deeply and walk in trust even in difficult and uncertain times? Do your neighbours notice your lack of anxiety during these circumstances? Are your priorities becoming different from those of your friends who don't follow Jesus...do you live by a different set of metrics? Are you empathetic to the suffering of those around you, even those different from you? Do you look for opportunity when everyone else is stuck in outrage? When you slip into old patterns of brokenness, do you know the way out...are you living more in victory than defeat?
I urge you to carefully reflect on these questions. Because what good is our faith if it has no practical implications for daily life and brings about no kingdom renewal in the here and now?
Today we're going to read some words of remembrance and encouragement from someone who witnessed heaven breaking into earth in a very real way. You can read about it later in Acts 9, but his experience gave him footing with which to live as a good citizen of Rome while his allegiance turned unequivocally to the Kingdom of God.
Read Paul's words in Ephesians 1:20-2:10 and pay attention to all the kingdom descriptions in 1:20-23. What do these verses say about the worth and work of Jesus? (just a note...this passage starts with a "He." You can look back to 1:3 to see who that refers to.) Then read 2:1-10 and make a note of all Paul says about being a citizen of the kingdom. There's an important connecting phrase at the beginning of verse 4: "But God..." Look for all the contrasts you can find between verses 1-3 and 5-6. These contrasting ideas help shape an understanding of the change that happens to us as grace transforms us from citizens of earth to citizens of heaven.
Finally, Read verse 10 and consider what this means for you as a kingdom citizen here on earth. What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to come in this world? To come in your city? Your family? Your work? Into the most inner places of your heart? What earthly things will be impacted? Confess this to your Father and then boldly ask for his perfect reign to come into this circumstance.
Then let's pray together. As you pray each familiar line, take a minute to fill it out with your own reflections...pray out of the understanding you have gained by studying the posture and purpose of these words Jesus has given us:
Our Father,
In Heaven,
Hallowed by your name.
Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Let the words of Psalm 67:1-2 be our prayer of "kingdom come" today:
"God, be gracious to us and bless us; please make your face shine upon us..." (Ask God to grow His kingdom agenda in your heart by His powerful presence at work in and with you. Remember that your great King is near. He longs for you to live out of intimacy with him.)
"...So that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations." (Ask God to grow His kingdom in you, that it might leak out over the people and circumstances of your day. Ask that the King's presence with you will actually make a difference here on earth today.)
Give us each day our daily bread,
* Ole Hallesby
** For more on this I'd recommend Skye Jethani's "What's Wrong with Religion?"
***Mark 1:15
*** *Acts 2:47
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