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In the movie, Hook, the elderly Wendy reunites with the middle aged Peter Pan.
Peter has become an overworked, overly ambitious man, who is very caught up in the world. He has no memory of his carefree, playful time as the never aging Peter.
Wendy is saddened by this and gently asks Peter, “Have you forgotten who you are?”
God might have the same question for us. Have we forgotten who we are?
We are not citizens of a limited earth. We are citizens of Heaven.
Our citizenship is in Heaven.
Philippians 3:20
We are not here to sit on earth and long for heaven. We are here to bring heaven to earth.
We pray,
“Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
But instead of understanding that is what we are here to do, we wait for God to make it so.
Sometimes we believe He will not make it so until some time in the future. In the meantime, we opine about the sorry state of earth and dream about some wonderful place far from here in the future.
The irony is that while many of us say we believe in heaven and want to go there, we do everything we can not to die.
We don’t want to give up all of earth, just the parts that seem more like hell.
So can Heaven come to earth? Yes, it already has. But like Peter Pan, we have forgotten who we are. We have forgotten why we are here.
Each one of us was sent with a bit of Heaven inside us. Jesus said not to go looking for the Kingdom of God in other places.
He said,
“The Kingdom of God has come near to you.”
Luke 10:9
And if you are wondering how near it is, Jesus answered that too.
He said,
“Behold, The Kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:21
Paul echoed that when he said,
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of The Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”
1 Corinthians 6:19
So if we have The Kingdom of God within us, why does earth not seem heavenly?
We are not acting like citizens of Heaven. We are acting like citizens of a world created by those who do not know they are citizens of Heaven.
We have been assimilated into their culture instead of lovingly reminding them who they and we truly are.
When Jesus sent His Disciples out, He gave them specific instructions on what He wanted them to do. A key part of His Instructions was to tell people The Kingdom of God was near.
So how do we function in a world that is functioning quite differently from Heaven? Jesus is the demonstration.
He abided by the laws of earth. He even paid taxes. He questioned governmental and religious leaders. He let them question Him. He was direct, but respectful.
He did not seek to overthrow anyone. He told The Truth He wants us to know now.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
We are not to overthrow the world with violence. We are to overcome the negative world by following what Jesus called a New Commandment.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:34
How does that work in practice? Start with those around you. Ask God how He wants to love them through you. Then do it.
Will it make earth look more like Heaven? Aw-w-w, therein is the next piece. God gave us each a section of earth to bring heaven to.
As you let Him fill you with His Light and His Love, you can bring that Light and Love to others, who will take it to others.
The Heavenly Light will spread across the darkness and earth will be revealed at last as God intended.
His Kingdom come on earth — Heaven.
Jesus said,
“I am The Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have The Light of Life.”
John 8:12
He also said,
“You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”
Matthew 5:14 and 16
Remember who you are and Whose you are.
You are a representative of the kingdom of which you are a citizen.
Do all to The Glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31
