How often have you heard a conference, ministry, church, teaching program etc. exclaim that they were about dealing with relevant issues in the real world?

They then proceed to offer practical advice regarding getting along in this world which more often than not is aimed at moving those who hear into some kind of season of blessing. But let me ask a question? What really is the real world? What truths are authentically relevant to those who’ve professed faith in Jesus Christ? And what are some of the most useful (practical) related to the life we lead now and why are they useful?

With that in mind let’s change the context and ask the same questions? How would a first century Jewish peasant living in Galilee or Jerusalem described the real world? What issues would he or she have thought most relevant to their lives? Tell me, what were thousands of people hoping to hear as they stood on the seashore listening to a suddenly popular Jewish teacher? My guess is that if they were anything like us they wanted to hear how God was going to help them get along in the real world. They probably wanted to know how He was going to help them deal with dominant oppressive culture. Many were interested how they were going to thrive economically in such distressing times. More than a few had physical illness and pain they wanted relief from. Others were wondering how they could obtain eternal life.

It’s against this backdrop that Jesus of Nazareth launched a small boat out onto the sea and began a series of tales from the real world. Reading through these short stories will immediately bring one face to face with how Jesus viewed the real world. For one thing there is no doubt that in Jesus’ mind the real word was already here even though many didn’t see it, understand it nor wish to have a part in it. Moreover, while Jesus didn’t view this present world as an illusion He certainly didn’t focus His teaching on the primary issues of this present world.

In these stories Jesus calls His followers to cast their gaze on the world to come and to live accordingly. Why? Because the kingdom of God is slowly but surely replacing the current rule and agenda of this world. To therefore focus all of our energy on getting God to smooth our way in this world is like playing the game of Monopoly as if it were real life.

Why did Jesus use stories to convey the deep truths of God’s rule and agenda? He did so because God reserves the right to reveal the ultimate meaning of life, faith and existence to anyone He chooses. Consequently if you begin to understand these things you must consider yourself blessed and thank God that He’s given you insight into the way things really are.

Read these stories so that you can begin to live a life of real meaning in a world that is rapidly passing away even as you anticipate life in the world to come. And remember the most practical, relevant thing you could do is pay attention to, accept and order your life based on the very real and soon to be fully revealed kingdom of the living God.

To Him Who Loves Us…

Pastor Lance