One of my favourite movies of all time is entitled “Lost Horizon”. It is based on a 1933 novel by James Hilton. Actually, there are two Lost Horizon movies based on this same book. The 1937 film was greatly received and the 1973 musical adaptation, well shall we say, was not well received. In either case, they captured my mind with the possibility of having a heaven on earth existence.
The story is about a veteran British diplomatic named Hugh Conway. As he is finishing up a difficult mission overseas, he and a small group of others are kidnapped in a plane and brought to a remote area of the eastern world where the plane crashes into a snow-capped mountain range and the pilot is killed. Luckily, Conway and the others survive and are rescued by a group from the nearby lamasery of Shangri-La.
The bulk of the movie focuses on the life Conway discovers in Shangri-La. For the first time in his life he finds inner peace, love and a sense of purpose. He also discovers that due to the lamasery’s isolation and perfect environment, the inhabitants enjoy unheard-of longevity. They live for hundreds of years and maintain consistent health.
The perfect dream?
If this all sounds like a perfect dream that’s because it is. Once the film credits roll, myself and the rest of the movie-goers depart from the show and head back out into the real world. The world that is anything but perfect.
Oh, if there were only a real Shangri-La! Actually, there is, but it is not here yet. Let me explain by way of an ancient prayer.
In the gospel of Matthew chapter 6, Jesus is instructing His disciples how to pray. This outline known by many as the Lord’s prayer presents teaching of not just a new world order, but a completely new world all together.
“… I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Revelation 21:1-2
Sounds much like a world filled with Shangri-Las doesn’t it. But now let’s explore the Lord’s Prayer and see how the real Shangri-La is in fact the Kingdom of God. In our examination, we discover 3 important characteristics of this new world.
Shangri La – It is up-and-coming
Mat. 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
According to this verse, God’s kingdom is up in the heaven, and it is coming down to earth. This is something you do not want to miss!
God’s kingdom is unique in that it has no beginning or ending. It is also not of this universe but outside of it in an eternal limitless realm.
God’s kingdom has subjects from every walk of life, every generation, and every nationality. If that was not enough, God’s kingdom has subjects that are human, animal, vegetable, mineral, and angelic. All these beings subject to the rule of one Person!
Now comes an amazing statement from Jesus. He says that we are to pray, “Thy kingdom come”! This amazing eternal limitless kingdom is coming to earth and we must acknowledge this EVERY TIME we privately pray to God! Our heavenly Father’s kingdom is coming to us!
Shangri La – It is utopian
Mat. 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Everything man has longed for will be realized in the Father’s kingdom. The reason for this is that His commands will finally be completely done by everyone involved. No more sin, no more depression, no more war, no more death. Nothing will be artificial; all beauty and goodness will be genuine and there shall be no end!
Shangri La – It is unrealized (for now)
Roughly 1,700 years ago, the Roman Catholic Church proclaimed that it was the kingdom of God on this earth. During the Protestant Reformation 500 years ago, Protestant churches proclaimed that the kingdom was not one visible church but a mystical universal church involving all the saved of earth and in heaven. More recently, evangelical churches began to proclaim that the kingdom is referring to the Millennial Reign of Christ.
So much history, so much proclaimed, so much confusion. Each of the historical church decrees lack the truest sense of perfection. Even during the Millennial Reign of Christ there will be people born into the world that oppose King Jesus. That is why He will rule with a rod of iron to keep things in check.
However, the Lord’s prayer says, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
The character of the Father’s kingdom is so much better than anything we could ever imagine. So, we may conclude that this kingdom is not referring to Christ’s church nor the 1,000 year future reign of Jesus Christ upon this old earth. Those are all steps leading up to the Father’s kingdom.
So, what?
Could it be that the kingdom of God that is taught in the Lord’s Prayer is the end goal of everything God has brought this old world through since its creation? All of the grief, destruction, and death was only a process to bring the faithful believer into an eternal existence of perfection with a loving God?
The human heart pants after a place like Shangri La and the exciting truth is that a place much better than that really does exist and it is on its way.
The new birth taught by Jesus whereby a person must be born-again is the only requirement to gain citizenship into this eternal Kingdom of pure godly wonder! Read John 3:16 for yourself and ask, “am I prepared for the real Shangri La?”
Care to comment on this?
Sign in and leave a comment at the bottom of this blog post. I would love to know your thoughts!
Until the next post, keep searching the DIVINE SCHEME!
Regards,
Mike MacDonald
– – – – – –
Hey SCHEEMERS, tap our SUBSCRIBE button and become a member of the DIVINE SCHEME UNIVERSE! Your benefits will include:
1) You will receive the very first notification of all new releases of blogs, podcasts, and novels associated with the Divine Scheme universe;
2) You will learn how to challenge Pop Theology and faulty beliefs to ensure you are inline with God’s reality; and
3) You will be entertainingly exposed to AMAZING concepts from God’s perspective (no need for myth and make believe). I guarantee you; God’s scheme is far more exciting and fulfilling to the soul than anything man could ever produce!
– – – – – –
About Mike MacDonald:
As an ordained theologian, Mike has served in many gospel ventures.
He has been a church pastor, chaplain, seminary vice-president,
Christian school principal, and creation evangelist. These roles have
built up an expertise in Mike’s ability to help people discover the true
essence of the Bible and how to make it apply in everyday life.