Why you should look behind and look forward...

When I read about the early church in the book of Acts I am amazed by the attributes of God's people. Luke describes early Christians as lovingly devoted to the Lord and each other. It appears these early Christians were displaying the Kingdom of God through their lives. 

Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 4:32-33 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his son, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 5:12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.

This brings a question to the table. Did the Kingdom of God come through the early church? The people of God gave to each other as each had need, they lived lives devoted to prayer and the word of God, and the apostles healed sicknesses and performed miracles regularly. This looks like the Kingdom of God displayed in the life of the early church!

On the one hand it is the Kingdom of God displayed through the life of the early church! The Kingdom of God is among them! On the other hand, the Kingdom of God has not come in its fullness. Wickedness still prevails, Satan still deceives, persecution still exists, and Jesus is not physically reigning over the entire earth. 

This is the age of the church. This is the time for the Kingdom of God to spread through the witness of the church. During this time persecution continues, Satan still deceives, and wickedness remains, but the church grows.

There will be a day, however, when the Lord will return and rule over the entire earth. Jesus will be King, his people will rule with him, Satan will be imprisoned, and deception will cease. What a wonderful day that will be.

May we enjoy the beauty of God's Kingdom work through the church, but may we not forget what is to come. May it motivate us to live out Kingdom principles moment by moment.