We are built to live in the kingdom of God. It is our natural habitat.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that our true existence and purpose are inherently tied to a divine or spiritual realm.
Dallas Willard emphasizes that human beings are designed to thrive within a spiritual context, which he refers to as the 'kingdom of God.' This notion implies that fulfillment and true living occur when we align ourselves with this divine habitat, suggesting that our spiritual nature is fundamental to our existence and well-being.
In practice
During a sermon about finding one's purpose, a pastor might quote this to inspire the congregation.
The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as βChristiansβ will become disciples β students, apprentices, practitioners β of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.
The first act of love is always the giving of attention.
So many people would like to have guidance from God because obviously, if you have a word from God, it's the best possible thing. But they don't relate that to life as a whole. Often they want guidance as a way of opting out of the responsibility of making decisions.
What is truly profound is thought to be stupid and trivial, or worse, boring, while what is actually stupid and trivial is thought to be profound. That is what it means to fly upside down.
The basic question 'will I obey Christ 's teaching?' is rarely taken as a serious issue. For example, to take one of Jesus' commands, that is relevant to contemporary life, I don't know of any church that actually teaches a church how to bless people who curse them, yet this is a clear command.
When I left home after graduating high school, I left as a migrant agricultural worker with a Modern Library edition of Plato in my duffel bag. It sounds kind of crazy, but I loved it. I loved the stuff. Before I knew there was a subject called philosophy, I loved it.
I am baffled by the way sophisticated theologians who know Adam and Eve never existed still keep talking about it.
There is Auschwitz, and so there cannot be God.
The world, dear Agnes, is a strange affair.
I shall go on shining as a brilliantly meaningless figure in a meaningless world.
But certainly, for us who understand life, figures are a matter of indifference.
For before this I was born once a boy, and a maiden, and a plant, and a bird, and a darting fish in the sea.
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