by Michael Duduit Having a Kingdom Perception

The death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. in a plane crash several years ago prompted discussion of "Black Hole Syndrome."

Black Hole Syndrome is defined as something that can happen to a pilot when he or she loses visual sight of the horizon. "In that case, the eyes give the brain no clue as to which is up or which is down. If the airplane should turn slightly or nose down slightly, the body's inner ear compensates to make the pilot believe he is flying straight and level. If for some reason the pilot makes another correction, at that point he can make a bad situation even worse."1

We can live or die based on our perceptions, can't we?

• Is it a red light or a green light?
• Is it seasoning or rat poison?

Those are physical perceptions — but the issue goes beyond things we perceive with our five senses.

In fact, the greatest concern we face in life is the issue of material vs. spiritual. We live in a world which tends to view everything in material terms. We tend to think in material/physical terms; we evaluate things in those terms; we plan our days and our lives in material terms.

Yet the message of the gospel is that there is another realm that is far more important — a spiritual realm in which God is present and active, and to which He calls us to be a part. That spiritual realm is the Kingdom of God. We were created to live in relationship with God as part of His Kingdom — yet most of us live most of our lives as if we are citizens of a different kingdom.

It's as if we have Black-hole syndrome — our perceptions have been clouded, and we don't realize which direction we are going.

Why does the Kingdom matter to us?

Because it mattered to Jesus. (Mark 1:14-15) (Matt. 4:23) If there is one thing New Testament scholars agree on (and there aren't many), it is that the Kingdom of God was the central teaching and focus of Jesus' ministry.

Jesus began His ministry with an announcement that the Kingdom of God was now present with them. When He taught in the synagogues, Matthew tells us He proclaimed the gospel (or good news) of the Kingdom. Later, most of His parables would be discussions of what the Kingdom of God is like. His most famous sermon will be about the Kingdom of God. If we have any interest in who Jesus was and what He taught, we cannot escape the importance of the Kingdom of God.

In Jesus' ministry, the Kingdom of God takes center stage. In Matt. 12:28, we read, "But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." That term "has come" (ephthasen) represents the actual presence of God's Kingly power. The Kingdom is not simply a distant hope to be looked forward to at the end of the age — the Kingdom of God is here and now in Jesus' presence.

In some unique way, through Jesus God has entered into history, triumphed over evil, and allows humanity to enter into intimate fellowship with Himself. When we recognize who He is and enter into a relationship with Christ, then we become part of God's Kingdom. What we do with Jesus determines our relationship to the Kingdom of God.

We were created to be Kingdom citizens — to dwell in a special relationship with God. But most men and women go through life oblivious to the reality of the Kingdom of God. It's as if a child grew up, lived and died in the streets of Calcutta, never knowing he was actually a child and heir of a wealthy American business leader. Unless an emissary is sent to tell the good news, it will remain hidden.

Jesus becomes the doorway through which we enter into the authentic life that is only available in the Kingdom of God. As this new year begins, what better time to be reminded that our most important loyalty and citizenship lies in a realm beyond this earthly one.

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1. Edmund Pinto, Managing Director of GKMG Consulting Services — an aviation consulting firm. From July 20, 1999 online chat with CNN.com after death of JFK, Jr. http://www.cnn.com/community/transcripts/edmund.pinto.htm

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Michael Duduit is President/CEO of American Ministry Resources LLC, and editor of LeaderLinks. You can contact him at michael@leaderlinks.com or visit his website at www.michaelduduit.com