The Mission


Once upon a time, there was a small kingdom unlike any other. It had
no physical boundaries as other kingdoms had. In fact, the citizens of this
kingdom lived and worked in towns and villages scattered throughout the land. 


Their king was also different from all other rulers. He had a
reputation for love and integrity throughout the world. And he was deeply
loved by his subjects. Loved perhaps because his greatest satisfaction in ruling was to do things for his people. He cried with them when they were sad, and he celebrated with them when they were happy. Best of all, he showed them by his own lifestyle how to rely on God for
every detail of life. He taught them how to live what he called the "abundant life." 


Interestingly, everything he said always proved to be true. So, when
he beckoned his people to come to their retreat high on a mountain for a
special meeting, they quickly stopped what they were doing, and came
running. Within a short time all the citizens of this kingdom were hiking
up the mountain trails. 


The king stood at the top of the mountain as they gathered. And, as
was his custom, he walked among his people, greeting them one by one
calling them each by name. He warmly embraced each one, looked in their
eyes, and told them he loved them. 

No one could doubt his love. 

Then he motioned for everyone to sit on the grassy slope. Once they
sat, he began to speak. 
"I will be going away for a while," he said, "and I have an important
mission for each of you."
It was like a dark cloud suddenly overshadowed them. No one was happy
with the news that their king was going away, and they listened all the
more intently. 
"As you know," he continued, "the things I tell you come directly from
our heavenly Father. What makes our kingdom so wonderful is that we rely on
Him for everything. In reality, this kingdom is His kingdom. Yes, you
listen to my words as your king, but all of 
my words come directly from Him. So as you do what I tell you to do, you
are actually following the leading of our heavenly Father."
The people all nodded in agreement.
"Now, my friends, it is our heavenly Father's wish that I leave you
for awhile. It is part of the plan to build His kingdom, to build it into a
kingdom that will show people throughout the entire world what a great God
He is, and how much He loves them."
A concerned young man called out, "But how can we possibly build this
kingdom without you being here? "You're our leader!"
"Oh, I will be with you, but not in the way I have been. You see, up
until now I have been limited by my physical body. I can only be one place
at a time. But when I leave, 
my Father will send to each one of you my Spirit. 
"Although you won't be able to see me, you will be able to talk to me,
and I to you. I will bring to your remembrance my words you have stored in
your heart. Yes, I will be with you spiritually just as certainly as I am
now with you physically. 
"Though you can't see the wind, you know it is present. You see what
it does. And though you won't be able to see me, you will see what I do
through you. You will sense my presence."
"You really will be with us?" beamed the young man.
"Yes, I will be with you. 
"Now, listen carefully, I am giving each of you a special mission - a
mission only you can do - to help build our Father's kingdom. No one else
can do what I want you to do. Only you can do it. If you don't do it, your
particular mission won't get done."
"What is our mission?" called out a young lady.
"Your mission is to build this kingdom, to bring more people into it.
And there are four ways I want you to do it. Engrave these four ways on
your mind. Think about them everyday, talk about them among yourselves, and
encourage each other in doing them!" 
"First, in partnership with me, I want you to love your friends,
relatives, neighbors, and everyone with whom you come into contact. Put
their interests ahead of your own. Wherever you are, at work, at school, at
play, I want you to let my love flow through you to them! That's how they
will know right away that you are part of our Father's kingdom, by 
the love you and I have for them. 
"Second," he continued, "I want you to use the talents I will give you
to help other people as an expression of our love for them. As I speak to
you right now, I am giving each of you certain talents and special
interests. I want you to partner with me in using these 
talents and interests to help other people. 
"To some of you I have just given a keen business instinct. To others
I have just given physical prowess. To still others I have given building
skills, artistic talents, and organizational skills. The different talents
and interests I have just given each of you are too numerous to mention
right now. But, count on it, I have given each of you at least one talent
to use in helping others. 
"Later, as you go about your activities, one way you can know what
talent I have given you is to ask this question: 'What interests me the
most?' Your answer to that question will help reveal the talents I have
just given you. As you pursue your interests, your talents 
will surface."
"But, what about me?" a man in his thirties called out. "I've never
been gifted in anything. How can I help build the kingdom?"
The king smiled and walked over to where the man was sitting. He
stooped down to look the man square in the eyes, and asked, "Does anything
interest you?" 
"Yes sir, for some reason, I'm interested in gardening." 
"That's the talent I have given you to use to help others," the king
replied, still smiling.
As he stood up, he looked out over his people. 
"Don't ever compare yourself with anyone else. Don't ever feel I have
short-changed you. I have given you exactly what I want you to have. So use
what you have to help others on your mission to build our kingdom. Don't
wish for something else. Now listen to me carefully. As you use what I have
given you to help others, I will richly reward you."
"Third," the king said as he continued to walk among his people, "as
you help others with your talents as an expression of our love, I want you
to give them this message. 
"Tell each person: 'God loves you, and He wants to enjoy close
fellowship with you.' Then explain to each person how to come into this
close fellowship with God by accepting me, and following in my steps, just
as each of you did and are doing! 
"Do you understand this message I want you to give to each person?"
In unison, the people nodded, "We understand."
"And the fourth thing?" a maiden asked. "What's the fourth thing you
want us to do?" 
"I want you to teach everyone who accepts me and, thus, enters into
our kingdom, the things I have taught you. I want you to pass on to them
the same words of life."
Again, everyone nodded with understanding.
Then silently, in their hearts, they each committed themselves to
carry out the mission their king had just given them: The mission to build
the kingdom four specific ways. 
They watched as their king turned and started down the mountain trail.
Looking back at his people, he shouted, "Keep alert! I will return one day.
And when I come back, I want each of you to give me an account as to what
you did with the talents I gave you to carry out your mission. On that day
I will reward you!"
Then he waved to them, turned, and continued down the mountain. Even
as he disappeared from their sight, the people sensed his presence even
greater than when he had just been standing among them. 

The people of this kingdom without boundaries immediately went to
work, each partnering with the king to carry out their mission. They
discovered they were more fulfilled than they had been in anything they had
ever done before. Each day they creatively used their talents and interests
to touch the lives of others. 
Some people carried out their mission just in a private partnership
with their king. Others did it with family members and friends, together in
partnership with their king. No matter how they did it, each one sensed the
presence of their king as he continued to produce results through them.
They enjoyed talking with him throughout the day, as he guided and helped
them. 
And their kingdom kept growing in number. 

But, unfortunately, not everyone took their mission seriously. Not
everyone obeyed the king. There were some who selfishly used their talents
to pursue their own interests. They helped others only if those people
would help them in return. They were not following in the steps of the king. 
Then one day, just as he had promised, the king returned. His loyal
followers were thrilled and rushed in one accord to greet him. However, the
selfish ones who squandered their talents and interests on themselves were
afraid. 
The king immediately sent word for all of his people to meet him on
the mountain. He was pleased as he stood at the top watching his people
come running, more people than ever before. He spoke to them by name as he
warmly greeted each one. 
Then he said, "For the next several days I want each of you to come to
my house to give an account as to how you used your talents to build our
Father's kingdom. At that time, I will reward you for carrying out your
mission." 
One by one the people came, each giving their account. 
One reported, "Sir you gave me the ability to be a fine cook. I opened
a bakery, and I gave all of my day-old bread to the poor. That gave me an
opportunity to give your message to them also, and several are now in our
kingdom. I have made sure they are being 
trained in your ways." 
The king was tremendously pleased. "You have done well. Now for your
reward, I am giving you a position of honor in my Father's kingdom. Yes,
you will now help me as I rule!" 
Another reported, "You gave me an unusual interest in my family. I
have spent the last few years giving myself totally to them, and helping
each of them walk in your ways. Each of them now has a family, and they are
continuing the same thing. In fact, many of their family members are also
now in your kingdom. And they're reaching out to their friends." 
The king smiled broadly and replied, "What a wonderful way to use your
talent as a family person. You have multiplied it many times. As a reward,
you will also rule with me in my Father's kingdom." 
One by one, each came and gave a similar happy report. Auto mechanics,
architects, plumbers, secretaries, teachers, athletes, politicians, clerks,
lawyers, ministers, construction workers, corporate executives, the
disabled, they all came. Everyone felt such a sense of fulfillment! 
Then, one person sheepishly stood before the king with his head
hanging low. "What's wrong, my friend?" the king asked. "You look so
embarrassed."
"Well, you see, I used the talent you gave me mainly for my own
pleasure. I thought if I was content with life, others would see my
contentment and begin to ask me questions. Then I would certainly have given
them your message." 
"And how did that work out?" 
"Not very well, I was never really content. I kept thinking my
contentment in life would come just around the corner." 
"And it never came?" asked the king. 
"No sir, it never came." 

At that, the king's familiar smile turned into a frown. 

"Don't you realize that true contentment is following in my steps,
doing as I would do, carrying out the mission to build my Father's kingdom?
You are not my friend after all," the king said angrily. "You never really
committed yourself to follow in my steps. You only gave me lip service. Now
remove yourself from my presence. This kingdom is only for people who love
God and are committed to follow me!" 

The poor soul sadly turned and walked away. He walked past all the
king's subjects standing in line, each eagerly waiting to give their report. 
The unusual kingdom became known throughout the world as the Kingdom
of God. It was like a city on a mountain, glowing in the dark for all to
see. A city in which love and truth lit up the world. Yes, it was a
kingdom without boundaries, ruled by Jesus Christ and his loyal subjects
who were committed to follow in his steps - loyal subjects who had taken 
their mission seriously.

May your on-the-road-journey with Jesus help you learn how to pursue
God's particular mission for you.

Remember, it's a mission only you can do.

And God has equipped you to do it!

starlitekrb@hotmail.com
If you would like to receive Jesus as your
Lord & Savior, please e-mail me.