Utopia?

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 14:17 ESV

“ Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”- Luke 17:20-21 ESV

City in my head, Utopia

Heaven in my body, Utopia

It's time for me, for me to go
City in my head, Utopia
Heaven in my body, Utopia
Into the sky, it rises now” - Todd Rungdren, Utopia, 1974

The lyrics above are from Todd Rundgren's song “Utopia.” I often listened to this song as a teenager. It seems like the artist was looking for some state of perfect bliss. As humans, we all have needs that no one or anything except God can meet.

Definition: Utopia

“utopia, an ideal commonwealth whose inhabitants exist under seemingly perfect conditions. Hence utopian and utopianism are words used to denote visionary reform that tends to be impossibly idealistic.” - Britannica

As a young man, I sought bliss and harmony through destructive habits. I knew God but thought I knew better how to obtain the happiness I sought. 

The Utopia that so many have sought since the Garden of Eden doesn't exist apart from Jesus. Human nature apart from God’s intervention is corrupt. 

Some scholars say that we are born guilty of Adam's sin. Others say that is not so. Still others say we are born broken with the inclination to sin. One thing I know for sure: you don't have to teach a child to lie, it comes naturally. Sin comes naturally to us all.

 Until Jesus’ return and the destruction of this present evil age, the kingdom of God will only be in the hearts of his followers. The perfect world or Utopia is an illusion apart from Jesus and “the new heavens and the new earth” that is coming.

Jesus came to the earth and brought his kingdom with him. He is the Word made flesh. He is the wisdom of God, the Son of God. As the second Person of the Trinity, he is God and became man. 

All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in him. Everything was made for him and by him. His message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17).

His followers are called to “ … make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19-20). We share the good news that Jesus died on a cruel cross to pay our sin debt. And he was resurrected from the dead and victorious over the devil. 

No political party or movement nor any ideology is capable of bringing Utopia to the earth. Marxism and Totalitarianism are failed experiments. 

The New Age movement and various religions desire what can only happen through the life of Jesus imparted to the human heart.

Politicians pontificate about solutions to the increase in crime in our society. Good legislation is helpful. But rarely do we hear them discuss the problem of the sinful human heart.

Until Jesus returns we can live in what theologians call “the already but not yet of the kingdom.” We live in a broken world and Jesus said,  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - (John 16:33 NIV) 

And again he said, “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

An important part of our assignment as followers of Jesus is to do good works. Feed the poor, educate, and bring relief to those in need. We can help alleviate poverty but we will never end it. 

When Jesus returns to the earth he will make every wrong thing right. We live with a sense of sadness yet we can experience peace and joy knowing that Jesus will one day make sense of it all. 

When we experience supernatural peace despite our circumstances - see the sick healed - people delivered from addictions, we experience a foretaste of the kingdom.

 Through God’s sovereign grace and the prayers of his people, we get to experience a temporary touch of his kingdom now.

Prayer: Father, may your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21: 1-4 ESV 

Hunger For God

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. - Matthew 4:6 NASB 1995 

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The two little ones above were hatched in my family's yard a few years ago. This is a vivid picture of hungering and thirsting to be filled by a source other than ourselves. 

When we experience regeneration ( born again) - we immediately look to God for spiritual nourishment. The kingdom of heaven is made up of those with childlike dependent hearts. 

A sign of true hunger for God is our desire to read Scripture. It becomes a glorious obsession. 

The condition of our hearts determines what we get out of daily Bible reading. The Spirit is present to guide a humble obedient heart.

When we receive this gift of righteousness we develop a hunger and thirst for the Holy Spirit's transforming presence. God makes us righteous. Righteousness is received not earned (we don't deserve it). It begins as a legal transaction, but the Holy Spirit leads us in a lifelong process to become more like Jesus. The transactional becomes experiential. Although we never achieve sinless perfection in this life. We must not lose heart! God promises to conform us to the image of Christ - if we don’t give up. 

Another way to say it: God wants us to live a righteous life and do righteous acts. This kind of life can only happen when we totally trust Jesus. We start our salvation journey with faith in Jesus which leads us into the faith of Jesus. Which is complete confidence in the Father’s ability to provide.

God is attracted to those with childlike faith. He promises to draw near to those who draw near to him (James 4:8).

If you have lost your hunger and thirst for him - why not ask God for more? Jesus’ invitation still stands. He's knocking on the door of our hearts. He wants to fellowship with us. Are you tired? He will give you rest. True satisfaction is found in a life fully surrendered to Jesus.