Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount teaches us that heaven is not a future reward for those who do what’s right. It is a future reward and a present reality for those who trust in Christ. The Good Place is not just a place you go to. The Good Place is where Jesus comes to you. The Good Place is where people of faith practice the teachings of Jesus. With Jesus, The Good Place is where you live.
Denver is a destination city. People move here and then find employment. The allure is the amazing weather, the outdoor attractions and all the amenities of a major city.
Denver is a good place to live and the future seems prosperous. Yet, any place can be a good place for those who follow Jesus.
Jesus came preaching about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is where God is king and where his Spirit-filled people practice the teachings of Jesus. The kingdom is a future reality but God gives us access to His kingdom in the present.
This is why it is our present future. It is a present possession and future destination. We participate in it now in part and will experience the kingdom in its fullness when we are transfigured into heaven.
The foundation of the kingdom is not a physical location on a map. The foundation for the kingdom is Jesus Christ. The kingdom life preached by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is not for the most committed Christians but for every disciple of Christ.
Each follower of Christ is to obey all that Christ has taught. Each follower is to be fully-committed, mission-driven, community-focused, and expectant of His return. It is a radical way to live. But in doing so, in faith, it is what makes where ever you live “good.”
Denver, Colorado may have a lot of qualities that make it good. But the scenery and metropolitan nature of the people are not its greatest good. Its greatest good can be when Jesus followers live the kingdom life in their neighborhoods.
Jesus brings heaven down to earth through his followers. The Good Place can be anywhere and it’s meant to be everywhere.
This is how Jesus opens up the Sermon on the Mount. The blessings of God are not conditional on the circumstances of life. The opposite is true. A person is blessed no matter/in-spite-of their present circumstances.
It is a state of being for those who believe. Even if you do not feel happy or are not experiencing good fortune. You are blessed.
Blessedness is the state of a person of faith who expresses needs. Humility is the major component for blessedness. The poor, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst, those who give mercy, and make peace. All are blessed because these things and all of Christ’s principles for life come from a place of submission to God and one another.
The present future kingdom is not given to the powers and principalities of the world but to the gentle in spirit and humble in heart. And those who possess these qualities of faith will see God, possess the kingdom of heaven, inherit the earth, receive comfort, will be shown mercy, be called children of God, and receive their reward.
The kingdom life pronounced in the blessed will be a light unto the world and salt to the earth.
The blessed know how to live in a world where there is much darkness. In the darkness, our lights shine brightly. We shine bright because we have an expectant hope in Jesus.
The blessed also act as preservers of God’s principles. The world looks good but without the “salt” of God it perishes and wastes away. The world looks good but without the salty people of God, it lacks the flavor of the kingdom.
Try eating your favorite meal without salt. That’s the world without the principles of God. It looks great but tastes bad.
That’s a world without meekness, mercy, purity of heart, humility, mourning, and the promises given by God to those who are in need.
Who wants a world like that? Even destination cities need kingdom people who are both living in and are on their way to “The Good Place.”
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Jovan preaches for the Littleton Church of Christ near Denver, Colorado. Visit here to listen to sermons preached at the Littleton Church.