Exponential Growth of The Kingdom

Maybe you’ve heard the story of the math teacher that asked his class on the first day whether they would take $100,000 per day for the rest of the month or 1 penny doubled every day for 30 days. Every student in the class chose the $100,000 per day. Then the teacher gave the assignment, “Do the math!”

Only then did the students see that a $100,000 a day for thirty days equals three million dollars. But a penny doubled every day for thirty days equals $5,368,709.12. Such a choice in this hypothetical scenario would have cost over two million dollars.

But there’s another fascinating characteristic of exponential numbers. On a graph the line is flat before it suddenly turns directly up.

It’s a natural law that works in nature as well as mathematics. For example author Jack Uldrich tells an interesting story about water lilies in his book Jump the Curve.

Consider an imaginary pond on which one water lily sprouts on June 1 and splits into equal sized lilies on each day of the month. Further assume that by June 30 the entire pond will be covered with water lilies.

Under such a scenario what percentage of the pond would be covered on June 20 of the process? If you answered 50% or even 20 or 10% you would be wrong. On day 20 the water lilies will cover only 1 tenth of 1% of the pond.

What occurs in the last 10 days is phenomenal. And what it reveals about what we see versus what is happening is even more so. Organic processes occur beneath the surface unseen by the natural eye. Two-thirds of the way into the process there is so little visible evidence of anything happening it hardly seems noteworthy. As Ulrich says, “by the time people finally grasp how fast things are progressing—say on day 28 of the pond example…—it is too late.”

When someone asked Albert Einstein to name the world’s greatest discovery he replied “Compound interest.” It’s exponential growth of capital.

The Prophet Isaiah talked about the time when Jesus Christ will rule the earth. Politicians have given a bad connotation to the word rule, but putting that aside, Isaiah’s vision was of a time when the earth will experience an unending utopia. In some ways the growth will be exponential.

Isaiah writes, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” Notice that there will never be an end to the increase of his government. The Apostle Paul later quotes Isaiah saying, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor. 2:9)

Isaiah’s prophecy has several clear facets. First, the throne of David will become the throne of Jesus Christ when he returns to the earth. But if that’s hard to fathom, consider that this government will never stop growing. Like the water lily, it is an exponential curve of upward expansion.

The other astounding factor is that it is essentially unseen at this time. Something is happening beneath the surface, a foundation being developed for the future that will electrify the earth. When it becomes obvious it will be overwhelming.

The disciples, knowing this and knowing they had sacrificed everything to follow him, asked Jesus where their place in this government would be. So Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:28)

That is a promise too specific to be a metaphor.

But what about others who have sacrificed for this unseen Kingdom? Jesus went on, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Matt 19:28-30)

A hundred times? It’s hard to imagine exactly what that means. Paul was right, “No eye has seen…what God has prepared for those who love him.”

For the present we will live in faith that the water lilies will be there on June 30

Until next time,