by Rev Douglas Brauner

God’s kingdom is expanding in the world, not ours.

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Colorado is known as the Centennial State. Its admission, to the Union, was only 28 days after the nation’s one hundredth birthday, making Colorado the thirty-eighth state. However, even before Colorado became a state there was plenty of activity in this area.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

If you’ve read James Michener’s book, Centennial, you know that the Colorado area does not have a spotless, moral, history. On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington’s Colorado Volunteers slaughtered over 140 Native Americans in what is known as the Sand Creek Massacre. Women and children accounted for most of those who were killed.

Westward expansion of our nation caused much conflict between the settlers and the Native Americans. These cowboys represent a part of that expansion. The bank building behind them is evidence of the results.

“As you go, spread this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.'”
Matthew 10:7 God’s Word to the Nations

We are leery of a westward expansion mentality when it comes to spreading the message of God’s kingdom. We have good reason to be cautious. Atrocities have been committed in the name of Jesus.

What is the message we proclaim? The message we proclaim is not a cultural message, though it impacts culture, it is the message that God’s reign has already come near us in the person of Jesus Christ. The reign of God stood on the dirt of creation in the person of Jesus. His death and resurrection penetrates the hearts of all broken, sinful, people.

It gives life. It gives hope. It gives peace.

It calls sinners to repentance.

Each one of us has a desire for the westward expansion of our ideas of who God is, instead of submitting to what the Bible says he is. We look to the Bible to back our ideologies. God is calling us to hear the words again that the kingdom of heaven is near. It is near us in the words of grace and mercy.

It is God’s kingdom that has drawn near, not our kingdom. It is God’s kingdom that grows in the world, not ours.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado