Dear First Pres,
“In Fresno as it is in heaven.” That’s our church’s vision. If you were part of our worship service on Sunday, that’s what you heard me talk about. An organization’s vision is simply a picture of a desired future state that drives and inspires the organization’s purposes and plans. It’s what an organization longs to see accomplished through their efforts.
Why is this our vision? As our Session prayerfully considered what the Lord would have us make the church’s vision, we were drawn to something we pray every week in worship. Jesus taught the disciples to pray for God’s name to be hallowed, His Kingdom to come and His will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” It was theology already evident in our old Purpose Statement where we pointed to “the redeeming transformation of our city and world.” It also connected to the DNA of our church. We are a church in the heart of the city who has always had a heart for the city. Plus, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 13, the Kingdom of God is worth selling everything to pursue. As we considered all of these factors while also considering the way it stirred our souls, it was exciting and easy to affirm “in Fresno as it is in heaven” as our church’s vision.
One of the things I particularly love about it is that it reminds us that we don’t exist for ourselves. Notice that the vision is not just “In us as it is in heaven,” or “In our church as it is in heaven.” No, the vision naturally points us outward to our city, to our neighbors, and to our coworkers. It reminds us that we who have been called by Jesus are called to join Him on His mission “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Of course, we are included in Fresno as it is in heaven, but it reminds us, every time we say it, of the heart that has long burned in this congregation for the people, places and institutions of Fresno and beyond to reflect the beauty of God’s Kingdom come through Jesus.
So, is the vision just a far-fetched dream that will probably never happen? No. First of all, since the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in and through us, the Kingdom of God comes on earth as it is in heaven whenever we surrender our will to His will. When we live our everyday lives in step with the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:25), God’s Kingdom comes. But, second of all, as sure as God has been faithful to every generation of His people, He will be faithful still. King Jesus is coming again and bringing everything under His Lordship. His Kingdom is coming. No physical or spiritual power can stop it. In the Father’s perfect timing, it will be on earth as it is in heaven when God’s epic story of redemption is brought to completion. Hallelujah!
Our privilege today is to participate in that. How do we do that? Well, that’s where I’m going with this coming Sunday’s message. I hope to see you there.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeremy
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