My dog has an interesting quirky behavior. When I leave the house in the morning I give her a Milkbone. When I come home, sometimes twelve hours later, she is standing at the door with the Milkbone in her mouth. Only then will she eat it. I have no idea what this strange behavior is about but it does remind me of a statement Jesus made during the Last Supper with His disciples.
In Luke 22:15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Does this mean Jesus will not eat or drink certain items until after the second coming? Perhaps a more meaningful question would be when will God’s Kingdom come or is God’s Kingdom already here in the hearts of His children?
While I certainly do not have definitive answers to this I do know we do not have to wait until some future date to begin receiving many of the benefits of being a part of God’s family. We might call them rights of citizenship in God’s Kingdom or the fruits of the Spirit. It really does not matter what we call them. What matters is that we realize they are available now and that we begin to enjoy them now.
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 26, 2002
Spring of Life, 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453.