At the end of World War II, German theologian Helmut Thielicke stood in the ruins of Hamburg’s University Chapel, preaching on the phrase “Your kingdom come.”  As he preached, Thielicke asked, “Who can still believe today that we we are developing toward a state in which the Kingdom of God reigns…?”  With most of Europe and much of Asia and North Africa in ruins, it was a perfectly understandable question.  And if we look around much of the world today–including our own North American continent, it could still be an understandable question.  And yet Jesus said that we should pray, “Your kingdom come.”

The “Kingdom of God” was central to Jesus’ teaching.  His first recorded words concern The Kingdom (Mark 1:15).  During the forty days between his resurrection and ascension, Luke says that the central theme of Jesus’ teaching was The Kingdom (Acts 1:3).  Gospel ministry and Christian discipleship are inextricably linked to the Kingdom of God.  And it goes even further than that.  The phrase itself doesn’t occur in the Old Testament, but the concept is certainly there.  Think of the book of Daniel, where God’s sovereignty over all human kingdoms and power structures is clearly emphasized.  And Zechariah 14:9 says, “The Lord will be king over the whole earth.”

But what is The Kingdom?  That’s not necessarily an easy question to answer, but in general it has to do with the rule and reign of God in all areas of life and society.  That means it is not just spiritual–it is not somehow separate from practical every-day life, but is reflected in how God desires us to live here.  Neither is it simply “future.”  It’s true that it will not be fully realized until Christ’s return, but that does not mean we should not seek to bring about what we can of the Kingdom in the here and now.

Beyond that, it is both God’s work and our work.  II Peter 3:12 speaks of the “Day of the Lord” and of our “speeding its coming.”  So when we pray “Thy Kingdom Come,” it must not be just about what we expect or want God to do, but also about what we will do ourselves to extend God’s reign.

In the end, the Kingdom of God is both a present reality–in a sense inaugurated with the incarnation of Jesus, and a growing movement whose ultimate realization will come at his return.  That gives us a secure hope for the future, but also a clear challenge to ensure that our own commitments, actions, and prayers are completely aligned with God’s purposes for the people and the world around us.  And even if it seems that sometimes those prayers and efforts fall flat, we can still pursue them knowing that, while we may not immediately see results, “[our] labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:58).