Hope in troubled times

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32

When we look at the world around us it is so easy to become discouraged – wherever we look there is crime, corruption, poverty, inequality, hatred and hardship. It is thus tempting to question God: “Why does He allow all of this? Why doesn’t He bring justice? Why doesn’t He put everything right?”

The Bible promises that God will indeed make everything right – we have the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). God will establish His Kingdom, and Christ will reign over His people in justice and righteousness: hence Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come”.

Many of Jesus’s parables are intended to help us understand the coming of this kingdom. Like the mustard seed, Christ’s Kingdom will have small beginnings but will eventually grow into something magnificent. This is borne out in history – the Church started out with a motley crew of 12 disciples, but now encompasses millions around the globe who serve Christ as their King.

We can thus be assured that, despite the state of our world, Christ is inexorably growing his Kingdom and building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And we can thus look forward, with confidence, to the day when Christ will return to bring the Kingdom in all its glory and fullness. This is a great encouragement in troubled times. • Bryan Marx, Grahamstown Baptist Church