The Land of Fulfillment
Matthew 5:1-7:29
Pastor Jim Luthy
There is a place we’ll call the Land of Never. It’s not Never Land. It has no mermaids, no pirates, no Captain Hook or Tinkerbell. But it does have quite a few Lost Boys.
The Land of Never is an imaginary place that is the aspiration of us all. If we ever make it to the Land of Never, we’ll feel as though we’ve arrived—promising us a clean conscience, favor with God, and the reverence of men. Wouldn’t you like that?
There is a problem with the Land of Never, though. The Land of Never is governed by a series of laws, some of which came from the Creator, some which came from the minds of men, and others that are even conceived in our own minds. The Land of Never derives its name from the fact that we can never follow all of the laws. We can never match the goodness of God. We can never satisfy all the laws of men. And we can never live up to our own expectations without feeling like a failure and the bearing the weight of shame. You see, nobody ever really arrives in the Land of Never. The best anyone can ever hope for is giving the appearance of having arrived. Yet anyone who believes in any form of a god and who has an active conscience longs to live in the Land of Never.
There is another land called the Land of Lawlessness. The Land of Lawlessness is quite different than the Land of Never, for there is no law. In the Land of Lawlessness, everyone does what is right in his own eyes. Of course, this Land appeals to us as well, because in the Land of Lawlessness we can pursue all the desires of our flesh. Understand that we were all born into the Land of Lawlessness. If we have belief in a god and an active conscience, we may desire to live in the Land of Never, but try as we might we never make it.
In Jesus’ day, there were a limited number of people who appeared to reside in the Land of Never. These were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. Most of the people wanted to feel as though they could make it to the Land of Never, but they were resigned to living in the Land of Lawlessness, with varying levels of satisfaction with their place.
When Jesus came proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, He proclaimed the availability of the kingdom to everyone from the spiritual zeros to the spiritual heroes. He declared to those living in the Land of Lawlessness that they could be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, provided they didn’t lose their saltiness or hide their lamp under a bowl. This was incredible news to those in the Land of Lawlessness. They thought he was opening the doors to the Land of Never. Jesus’ message was such good news to those who could never measure up, they assumed he was simply merging the two kingdoms, making it possible to dwell in the Land of Lawlessness but proclaim citizenship in the Land of Never. The people were in danger of believing that they could have their sin and be righteous too.
Many people think Jesus came to merge the Lands of Never and Lawlessness. They believe that Jesus opened the door of heaven to the sinners and prostitutes and so opened the door to them, no matter their sin. Paul wrote about this in Romans when he asked, What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (Romans 6:1)
I once worked with a woman who was very vocal about her faith in Christ. In many ways, she was the model for boldness. She talked a lot about her church, shared things the pastor said, and even talked about how great it was to be forgiven. Unfortunately, she also talked about the wild parties she attended and spoke openly about relationships with men who were not her husband. It was usually at the end of these stories that she talked about how great it was to be forgiven. But Jesus did not come to merge the Land of Never with the Land of Lawlessness. This is precisely where he was going with Matthew 5:17-20:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus came to proclaim a different land. Named after the fact that he came to fulfill the law and restore us to being the salt of the earth and the light of the world, I call it the Land of Fulfillment.
The Land of Fulfillment is quite unlike the Land of Never, where the law must be followed completely to be made acceptable. It is also unlike the Land of Lawlessness, where there is no law but what each person chooses. The citizens of the Land of Fulfillment must come to understand that the Law is not either required or eradicated. Instead, Jesus simply made clear that all of the Law was good. Not the smallest of letters would disappear from the Law. Whoever broke the most minute of these laws and encouraged others to do the same would be the least in the kingdom. But he was referring to people who, nonetheless, were in the kingdom. Whoever practices and teaches the Law will also be in the kingdom, and they would be called great.
Jesus was opening the Land of Fulfillment for those who would abandon the Land of Lawlessness by pursuing a righteousness that surpassed that of those who appeared to have it all figured out in the Land of Never. What did he mean?
Let’s suppose this wrapping paper represents the man or woman supposing to dwell in the Land of Never. Every stream of color and each distinct print might represent the good they have done. Compared to this strip of leather, the wrapping paper is far more attractive. Let’s suppose, then, that this strip of leather represents the life hidden in the Land of Fulfillment. It is quite a bit more course and a lot less colorful. There is very little appealing about it.
When Jesus said that your righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, he was not talking about appearance. Righteousness has to do with the heart. It has to do with substance. It doesn’t matter what the appearance of your material is, it is the substance of it that counts. You can look good all you want, but will having all the right appearance withstand the judgment of God. Only the heart that has conformed to the purposes of the law will have the substance to know real fulfillment as God intends it.
If you and I want to be good for the purpose of looking good, we will probably find a way to look good. Any of us can walk up to someone we want to die with a big smile on our face and say, “hello” as long as it serves our own purposes. But the Land of Fulfillment is not populated with good-looking people. Wait, let me rephrase that. I don’t want to offend any of your pretty people. Nor do I want to give credence to those who walk around with a big scowl on their face all the time. You know the type, they have so much bitterness and rage and self-righteousness in them that they can’t afford to smile or they might let it all out! What Jesus is saying is simply this: The Land of Fulfillment will not be populated with people who are sinfully ugly on the inside, no matter what they portray on the outside.
Jesus goes on in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount to give examples of the differences between living in the Land of Never, the Land of Lawlessness, and the Land of Fulfillment. In verses 21-26, he begins with the example of murder. Those who live in the Land of Never would live strictly by the command “Thou shalt not murder.” I often ask people the question, “If you were to stand before God and he were to ask you why he should let you into heaven, what would you say?” People often include in their answer, I never killed anybody. Following that logic, those who have never killed anybody are eligible for the Land of Never and those who have are automatically eliminated.
Let’s say, for example that this volunteer happened to hit someone in a fit of anger, causing them to fall into the street and be killed. You are disqualified from the Land of Never. There is no hope for you if you kill. You have just felt the sting of the Land of Never.
Let’s say this volunteer was just as mad, hit another person just as hard, causing the person to fall just as far into the street, and the person lived because there was no car coming. No problem. You have not killed. You qualify for the Land of Never.
The law says “thou shalt not kill.” There are no provisos or quid pro quo. Either you kill or you don’t kill and if you kill you’re out.
But what if you don’t kill, but you maim?
The law doesn’t say you can’t maim. Wait! But don’t maim on Sundays! You can’t maim on Sundays.
This is how it goes for those who strive for the Land of Never. They might be able to pat themselves on the back for observing this law or that law, but sooner or later there comes a time and a place where you do not measure up. Either your will was weak or your understanding was small and you’re banished forever from righteousness.
Of course, those in the Land of Lawlessness cannot say “thou shalt not kill.” They might say its bad, but there is no restraint. Without any law other than what seems right to a man, the door is open to murder even if our conscience or culture tells us otherwise. This kind of thinking results in everything from a woman hiring a hit man to murder her unfaithful husband to the annihilation of millions of unborn babies for the sake of convenience to the mother.
In the Land of Fulfillment, where the Law is good, the people understand that there is no life in killing. Furthermore, Jesus says, even those who get angry or are contemptuous or insulting have violated what God has declared as good when commanding that we shall not kill. Righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees is that substance of the heart that understands that hatred and bitterness and contempt and disrespect do not come from the heart of God. That kind of a heart is full of sin and puts us in danger of the fires of hell. Jesus came to fulfill the law by calling us to a righteousness beyond simple appearance, forgiving us when our hearts fail, and restoring to us a heart like his. Life in the Land of Fulfillment recognizes that every choice is an opportunity to enjoy blessing or curse or be to be counted among the least or the greatest.
Jesus covers the same principles in addressing the differences between the Land of Never, the Land of Lawlessness, and the Land of Fulfillment in other topics: adultery, divorce, oaths, retribution, love for your enemies, charity, prayer, and fasting…
About charity and prayer and fasting…Here we have Jesus talking about some things we shall do rather than something we shall not do. We are exhorted by God to give to the needy and to pray. Those in the Land of Never give and pray to be noticed because its all about the appearance rather than the substance. Those who live in the Land of Lawlessness don’t find it necessary to give or to pray. But those who pursue the Land of Fulfillment give and pray for the Father’s reward. They give in secret and pray in their closets because their hearts goal is not to be seen by men but to enjoy life in the Land of Fulfillment. They are most concerned about having kingdom hearts.
Jesus goes on to sell the benefits of living in the Land of Fulfillment. He calls it a place of future treasures, with no need to worry about your own care or judge others. He says it is a land where the Father gives good gifts if we simply ask, seek, and knock.
Then he closes with a warning. “Come through the narrow gate,” he says. “Watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing.” He warns. “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus came to open up the Land of Fulfillment. He refused to eliminate people because of their failures, but he also said those who lack the substance would be greatly surprised. The only way to be fulfilled is to do his Father’s will.
That’s why he concludes his message with the comparison between the wise and foolish builders.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27).
If you are building your house on the Land of Never or on the Land of Lawlessness, you are a foolish person. You might have put on the greatest act in the world and fooled the world, maybe even put on your mask and fooled the church, but you won’t fool God. He knows your heart. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” You might also think that if Jesus came to forgive us of our sin you can do as you please and still find fulfillment. Jesus says he never knew you.
Since the Lord opened the eyes of my heart nearly 17 years ago, there are a few very important things I’ve come to know. First, I know I’ve been forever disqualified from the Land of Never. I could never measure up. I still don’t. The other thing I’ve come to know is that there is nothing more satisfying than experiencing his presence and feeling his pleasure when I choose to do his will.
I spend my money foolishly sometimes. Certainly I know I’ve fumbled stewardship more than enough to disqualify me from being perfect in that area. Years ago, though, I decided to listen to his words and put them into practice by giving the firstfruits of my crops. Later on I learned not to worry about my finances, freeing me to give generously on occasion and also to forego a steady career in law enforcement to respond to God’s call into the ministry. There are times when I look at my finances and I feel like God must consider me the least in the kingdom. Then God surprises me with blessing and I feel like God must really be pleased. But I know this…I’ve never gone without anything I need and I am always assured that I am in his care. I may not be getting rich, but I don’t go without. And I always have my Jesus. That is living in the Land of Fulfillment.
Only those who hear his words and put them into practice live in the Land of Fulfillment. With this, Jesus ties his entire message together. Blessed are you. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Your Father will reward you. Store up treasures in heaven. How much more will the Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? Enter through the narrow gate. Listen to the words of Jesus and put them into practice, like the wise man who built his house on the rock. Build your house in the Land of Fulfillment.
Where are you building your house?
