The Forest AND the Trees: The Good News (part 5)

It seems to me that I most often hear the Gospel of John quoted, especially in regards to sharing the good news. "You must be born again;" ' For God so loved the world;" "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly;" and "I am the way, and the truth, and the life ; no one comes to the Father but through Me" are rightly quoted often. But they are relational verses--verses that allow me to see myself from God's perspective. I, and all the individuals around me, can each be a "tree" in God's forest. That's great news, but by itself, it is the story of each tree. Other parts of the Bible give the perspective of seeing the "forest" rather than the individual.

Matthew is often a "big picture" account of the good news rather than focusing on the individual seeker. Early in the gospel, as Jesus' ministry is beginning in earnest, he writes: "Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. He speaks about the kingdom of God in over fifty verses. John does it in about three. Simply put, the kingdom of God is Jesus, as king, and those whom He rules. Being part of that kingdom is what we're told to seek first. It's the pearl that we should sell everything we possess in order to purchase. It's the tiny mustard seed that grows to be huge.

The possibility of being a part of God's rule, being transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God's dear son, is good news. Those that He rules get to enjoy Him for all eternity. Within His borders are protection and provision. In His garden are productivity and fruitfulness. Being under His rule gives unity and common purpose to all the divergent trees and allows then to become a forest.

Individual salvation is essential, but it's not what we are commanded to seek first. Forgiveness of sins makes it possible to have fellowship with a holy God, but it's not the thing for which I sell everything to purchase. Those things are among the individual elements that make up the larger picture. They are trees that make up the forest.

Preaching the good news of the kingdom focuses on Jesus as King. Jesus as King rules His followers and gives all that is necessary for them to obey and productively work together for the King's benefit. Preaching the good news of salvation focuses on Jesus as Savior. Jesus as Savior forgives sins and saves us from the judgement we deserve. Announcing salvation while neglecting to proclaim the rule of God gives those who believe permission to go to heaven but no power to obey and be changed on this earth.

I want to go to heaven, but I also want to be productive. And I don't just want to be productive. I long to be part of what God has been doing since the beginning of time. I may be a little tree, but I'm part of a big forest. To me, that's incredibly good news!

Matthew 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.