Turf Wars

A nation threatens another nation, saying it will be wiped off the face of the earth. A different nation wants to keep its money sovereign, even though it's committed to a group of other nations. A major power is thinking of building a long fence, to keep other people from coming in. In our country, two men spend hundreds of millions of dollars to try to become president. Everyone has their own little "turf", or kingdom, to keep and protect.

Larger than all these can imagine, is God's kingdom. Six times in Matthew 13 Jesus tells us what the kingdom of heaven is like. Like bad fish and weeds being separated and thrown away. Like yeast working its way through the dough. Selling out, giving up everything to possess. God tells us that His kingdom is attainable to all who believe. None of these man-made kingdoms can keep us from being part of God's kingdom. But there is one kingdom that can keep us out.

It's our kingdom, the kingdom of ourselves. If we want to be the king, if we want it to be about me, that can keep us out. If we spend our time, our talent and our resources expanding or defending our turf, we have no time for Him. We are too busy with our own pursuits to pursue Him.

The band Mercy Me put this into words rather profoundly in "In A Blink of An Eye"-

You put me here for a reason
You have a mission for me
You knew my name and You called it
Long before I learned to breathe
Sometimes I feel disappointed
By the way I spend my time
How can I further Your kingdom When I'm so wrapped up in mine.

How true. How can we further His kingdom when we're so wrapped up in ours. All the nations and kingdoms on this earth can't stand up to His. What kingdom do we want to be a part of?