I used to love Abbott and Costello, the American comedy double-act who were so popular back in the 1940s/1950s. They had a very famous and very clever sketch in which funny man Costello asks Bud Abbott about a baseball game which is coming up in which Abbott (that is, in the skit) is the team manager. The sketch is hysterical. Even today if you type in ‘WHO’S ON FIRST?’ on YouTube their old skit comes up.
But what I want us to think about is who is THE FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT ONE in our lives? In an age of distraction, everyone is looking for something that gives purpose and perspective on life. Jesus says it’s the KINGDOM OF GOD. But the kingdom is not just another religious idea. Rather, God’s LOVING REIGN brings CLARITY and COHERENCE to all of life – identity, work, play, relationships, justice, character – in a way that is PROFOUND and PRACTICAL. “…do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear…your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things…SEEK FIRST (prōton: in time, place, order of importance) the KINGDOM OF GOD and His righteousness, and all these things (all our necessities) shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:31-33)
Ok, so, where is the kingdom of God? David prayed this pray concerning the TEMPLE OF GOD and said, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; YOURS IS THE KINGDOM, O LORD, And You are exalted as HEAD OVER ALL.” (1 Chronicles 29:11) Well, now, today, “Do you not know that YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD and that the SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God WILL DESTROY HIM. For the temple of God IS HOLY, which temple YOU ARE.” (1 Corin. 3:16-17) About the kingdom of God, “Now when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.” (Luke 17:20-21)
IN LIGHT OF ALL THIS WE MUST PRAYFULLY REMEMBER THAT, “…the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you DO NOT THINK HE WILL.” (Matt. 24:44)
-Bill Stockham