The Secret of the Kingdom

     Jesus loved to tell stories.  It was really his favorite way to teach.  One day he went out to the lake and was surrounded by a crowd, eager to hear the profound wisdom of this miracle worker.  His story went like this:

"A farmer went out to sow.  He threw the seeds everywhere.  The ones that fell on the road were eaten by birds.  The ones that fell on the bad soil died.  The ones that fell on the good soil produced a rich harvest.  Thank you and Good Night!"

He then went on a hike up a hill.  The majority of the crowd, so numerous that they were not even counted, milled around for a while then dispersed.  A few, however, set off on that same hike in order to ask Jesus some questions.  They found him and asked what he had been talking about.  He answered "To you has been given the secret to the Kingdom of Heaven."  He had not explained the parable or given them any information that the rest of the crowd did not have.  What they had was the willingness to ask questions.  That is the secret to the Kingdom of Heaven: Questions.

     We prefer Facts to Questions.  We prefer Opinions to Questions.  We prefer Hunches, Feelings or the ability to "Just Figure It Out" to Questions.  Questions imply that we do not have all the information or all the resources that we need in order to move forward.  Most galling of all, Questions imply that someone else has what we need and we must rely on them in order to move forward.  Asking a Question, a real and meaningful Question, is a step of humility and one that makes most people very uncomfortable.

     Jesus taught in parables...stories.  Then he waited to see who really wanted to know more.  Who was so passionate about finding answers that they were willing to come ask a Question.  For in Spiritual Matters, as with many other things, it is more about Who you know than What you know.  We are not built to know everything.  We are built to learn.  And who better to learn about spiritual, eternal things than the One who created it all?  God can handle our questions...even our toughest ones...even the ones that rip at our heart when we whisper them.

     The Secret of the Kingdom of God is not to know the most or be the most eloquent or yell your position the loudest or get the most people to agree with you.

     The Secret of the Kingdom of God is to ask the best, most personal questions to the God who knows you better than you know yourself...and then act on His response.  That is how Truth is found and lives are transformed.