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It's Not Eldorado

             But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

'Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride,' The shade replied,— 'If you seek for Eldorado!' (Edgar Allen Poe, “Eldorado”)

I love the poem, Eldorado, but it I suspect that, too often, we see seeking first His kingdom much as the shade describes the search for the golden city. The Mountains of the Moon may refer to a mountain range in East Africa and the Valley of the Shadow may refer to a valley in Israel. Whether they do or not, the idea is clear. The places one must go in one’s quest for the city of gold are inaccessible to most of us. Too often, the Kingdom of God is considered just as inaccessible. It’s out there, somewhere, and the only way we’ll find it is to die.

Dallas Willard described the Kingdom of God as the range of God’s effective will. If we are His subjects and He is our King, we are in the Kingdom of God. No tilting at windmills necessary (Yes, I know. I switched references.) Just obedience.  That may be harder.

It means that seeking the Kingdom is something we can do any time we choose to, without necessarily interfering with what else we’re doing. We can seek the Kingdom while getting ready for work and while working. We can seek the Kingdom by cooking, cleaning, waving at a neighbor, or trying to decide which of three possible items to buy and while doing any of those things.

It occurs to me that seeking the Kingdom of God is less about where the Kingdom is, and more about Who is King.

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