“Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

Happy belated President’s Day. As Patti and I were driving back from a long weekend in Tahoe yesterday we reflected on the fact that we celebrate President’s Day in the U.S., but we don’t really celebrate the living Presidents. Why not have them come together to be honored in some way and thanked for their service? Guess not. Not in our day and age. In one of the Presidential GOP debates that happened in the backyard of Cape Canaveral, Florida the candidates talked of the importance of space exploration and even the colonization of the moon. While many may think this is crazy, it was not that long ago that our country leaped forward in science, technology, engineering and math, because we pushed to put Neil Armstrong on the moon. The common goal galvanized us and from that activity many inventions and technology advancements came about that we now use today in our everyday lives. Space exploration can be big business if we figure out the right goal to be agreed upon and then align and go.

When Jesus was emerging as a teacher and being followed, many of the Jewish leaders looked for the Messiah to be the person who would become the ruler of the Jewish people here in earth to remove the oppression of Roman rule. Jesus refused their offers and let it be known that His Kingdom was not of this world. When He said that, He did not mean that His Kingdom was in outer space. He was talking of the Kingdom of Heaven and also the Kingdom that is Him in each of our hearts and souls who believe and follow. But, it is similar to our human desires to wonder, explore and try to understand the space beyond this earth, that God wants us to wonder, explore and try to understand His Kingdom beyond this earth. As we step into this day let’s explore what our role in His Kingdom can be today. Let’s listen to what we are being told to do and allow that one act or word of appreciation, understanding, or compassion to be a part of the building of His Kingdom here on earth.

Reference: John 18:36 (New Living Testament)