Tavern Talk #75 - A Level Kingdom

Life is a rollercoaster. We all experience highs and lows, joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. No one is exempt—not even Christians. The Bible is full of stories of people navigating the extremes of life. Jesus Himself addressed this reality in Luke 6:17-26, acknowledging both the struggles and the blessings that shape our journey.

But Jesus also introduced a radical shift in perspective—a new value system that turns the world’s expectations upside down. In God’s Kingdom, the things that the world celebrates—wealth, success, comfort—don’t hold eternal significance. And the things that the world dismisses—poverty, suffering, rejection—are not true lows in God’s eyes.

The world measures life by temporary highs and lows, but God’s Kingdom is level—a high level. Through the grace of Jesus Christ, we are invited into a life where earthly success is not the goal and earthly hardship is not the end. Instead, we are called to trust in the unshakable foundation of God’s love and grace.

 

A Mardi Gras to Easter Perspective

This idea is especially fitting as we enter the season of Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter—a cycle that vividly illustrates life’s highs and lows.

Mardi Gras is a celebration of indulgence, excess, and revelry—the world’s version of a "high." It represents the joy of abundance but also how fleeting and hollow that kind of high can be.

Ash Wednesday immediately follows, bringing a stark contrast. The ashes remind us of our mortality and sinfulness—what the world would consider a "low."

Lent then leads us into a season of reflection, repentance, and spiritual discipline. It is a time of self-denial, of walking through the wilderness, much like Jesus did for forty days.

But the journey doesn’t end there.

Easter comes, the ultimate "high" in God’s Kingdom—not because of worldly success, but because of Christ’s victory over sin and death. The resurrection is the ultimate leveling—God making a way for all, regardless of status, to have eternal life.

Just as Jesus redefined what is truly high and low, this season reminds us that temporary highs and lows do not define us—God does. Our hope is not in the fleeting highs of the world or in the despair of its lows, but in the steady, unwavering grace of Jesus Christ. 

So, as we navigate the highs and lows of life—and of this season—let’s remember: God’s Kingdom is not about temporary ups and downs. It is about being grounded in the eternal, unshakable hope of Christ. The ground is level at the foot of the cross, and in Him, we are lifted to a higher place.

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Reading:

Luke 6:17-26