"yours is..."

I talked about yesterday's thoughts (about the kingdom of God) with my friend, and another good point came up. In contrasting the activists' promise with Jesus' promise, I said:

Jesus spoke of God's kingdom that was available in the midst of poverty and powerlessness, not a kingdom that we could experience once we eliminated poverty and empowered people politically. And Jesus demonstrated this kingdom by becoming (and remaining) poor and powerless himself.

That seems to me markedly different (markedly better) than the message and actions of the Christian activists.

And it reminds me of the sermon on the mount:

Jesus lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." (Lk 6.20)

Notice that this beatitude is present tense: "Yours is the kingdom of God." (In Matthew's version, the last beatitude is similar: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Mt 5.10) And, far from demonizing poverty and powerlessness, Jesus calls it "blessed" for his disciples who embrace it for his sake.

Another aspect of the kingdom I see in Jesus but not in those who are trying to "build the kingdom of God (on earth)" appeared as I read in Hebrews this morning:

[Our ancestors in faith desired] a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. ...For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. (Heb 11.16, 13.14)

Our home, not built here, not built by human hands. A city prepared for us.

By God.