Tales from the Truckin’ Trail

Your will on earth as it is in heaven. 

If we only knew what life in heaven is like then we would know what we’re shooting for here on earth.  Wait a minute; Jesus would know.  He came from heaven.  He’d know what God’s will is for heaven and earth.  And wouldn’t he live his life in full compliance with God’s will?  And wouldn’t he teach others what was important to God?

Then, to get an idea of how to create a bit of heaven on earth, we need only look to Jesus to see what that might look like.  Jesus also said, “Your Kingdom come…”  Seems to me that we who wish to follow Jesus are put here to usher in God’s Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.  (Pardon me, but I don’t think Kingdom and church here are synonymous.  I think the church is chiefly commissioned to announce the Kingdom but Jesus wasn’t praying for the establishment of local congregations throughout the land…the Kingdom is far bigger than that.)

To get an idea of what my role in announcing the Kingdom I need to observe very carefully what Jesus focused on while he was here.  It’s interesting that he didn’t say much about church worship.  Nor about leadership or women’s role, or church music or other issues that church people focus on and argue about.

The clearest teachings for me are found in his “sermon on the mount.”  There he talks about our influence (salt and light), relationships (murder, adultery, divorce, keeping your word, revenge, loving enemies, judging), caring for the needy, prayer, fasting, greed (treasures in heaven), worry, choices (narrow/wide gates), hypocrisy, building a strong life (foundations).  And in the description of his own mission, Jesus reveals what kinds of work he must be about in creating “on earth as it is in heaven.”  Remember, he said he is to be about giving hope to the poor, mercy to wrong-doers, relief to the infirmed and comfort to the alienated. 

Again, it seems to me that these are what I’m to be about if God is using me to reveal his Kingdom and will on earth as it is in heaven.

That’s why I’m trying really hard to make every encounter with another person something significant.  And sometimes it seems so silly and trivial.  I carry a big bucket of Double Bubble gum in my truck to give to the men and women at the many security checkpoints I go through each week.  Now, they look forward to my coming by.  Several weeks ago, I heard a warehouse person complain about the huge truck load I brought him and that he wouldn’t have time to study for a test.  I asked what kind of test; he said he was trying to become a firefighter.  Last week, I asked him how his test went.  He didn’t even remember our previous conversation and was amazed that I did.  He was genuinely impressed that I asked.  I look for ways to help other truckers, wave at every kid I see, pick up paper in the parking lots, tip generously, compliment profusely, engage in conversations with service people (janitors, waitresses, cleaning people, etc.), and do the very best I can at work.  In short, what I learned from Jesus is that there are no insignificant people and no insignificant events.  Every encounter has potential to reveal the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. 

Doesn’t that give new perspective to your day?  Doesn’t that put the power of God in your hands?  Doesn’t that take the edge off of having to win an argument?  Doesn’t that alleviate the stress of having to live up to expectations?  Doesn’t that put the one hour a week or so you spend “at church” in perspective?