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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.
__________________
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/
__________________
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
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