Kingdom reality on a Thai beach

I feel a stirring deep inside my
heart. It’s this insatiable longing for MORE, more than life as I previously
knew it. As A.W. Tozer says, “Thirsty
hearts are those that have been wakened by the touch of God within them.” My heart has been awakened to KINGDOM. Jesus came preaching,
“The Kingdom of God is near…” My heart has been awakened to this crazy, absurd,
upside down Kingdom where you lose your life to save it, humble yourself to be
exalted, and give up everything to gain everything (just to name a few). The
craziest part is that this upside down Kingdom is the only thing that makes
sense to me.

The reality is that we live in the
midst of a great battle. There is an enemy and he comes only to kill, steal,
and destroy. He is destroying life, dehumanizing people with intense brutality,
and holding peoples’ lives in dark, dank dungeons. There are people being held
captive all over the world. From gang members in Mexico and Nicaragua held
captive by their addictions, to beggars in Asia held captive by their poverty,
AIDS orphans in Cambodia held captive by their disease, prostitutes in Thailand
held captive by their desperation, the men visiting these prostitutes held
captive by cravings that can’t be satisfied, business men held captive by an
insatiable desire for wealth. There are many captives; I have seen them, talked
to them, and befriended them. The darkness of this world is overwhelming, but
there is LIGHT piercing the darkness.

For there is also LIFE, abundant
life. Life that brings unconditional love, unexplainable grace, and
unimaginable freedom. This life is a free gift from our Savior, our Lover, our
God. Jesus is a God who loves us with unspeakable passion, gave His life for
us, and delights in us. The God who created me, who created the universe, also
delights in me. The world needs to know this! Captives can be set free with
this love.

It doesn’t make sense to sit
comfortably at home with the knowledge of this immense love. There are people
dying all around me who need the life that this Kingdom brings.

I finally understand Jesus’s
parable in Matthew 13:45-46: The Kingdom
of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of
great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. This
always seemed a bit imprudent to me; selling everything you have for one pearl.
Now my heart has been awakened and my eyes have seen that this Kingdom, this
pearl, truly is worth all that I have and all that I am.

This awakening begins with praying
dangerous prayers: Lord break my heart for what
breaks Yours! And it brings forth from within me a passionate shout:
Everything I am for Your Kingdom come!