We have a better picture in our head for what the end result will look like. It it is meant to become, "the full grain in the ear", for harvest or "the largest of plants", or "a majestic cedar". We want to see love and truth meet and justice and peace kiss (cf. Psa. 85:10). The end game is a place where the tears will be wiped from every eye. The mustard seed eventually grows into a world free from sorrow and pain (cf. Rev. 21:4).
But the mustard seed is just so small. We do not really understand how it can grow so large. The resources just don't seem to be there. The circumstances the kingdom faces are dire. There is sickness and war, poverty and hate. God is neglected and ignored and the basic kingdom building blocks, the very people who are meant to be living stones, are ignored and rejected. In the case of abortion they are even killed. These stones are meant to be joined into families. But these too are now being created with no reference to God. Dire might be an understatement. Even those who want it to grow are beset with weakness. Even we who want to see it become the largest of plants spend some of our time working against it. Yet in spite of all this, grow it does.
This is how it is with the kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and through it all the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how
It is not limited by its own apparent lack of resources.
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.
In order to contribute to the kingdom we must not limit it by our expectations. We need to get on board with God's plan whether or not it seems practical in our eyes. Whether or not it even seems possible we must pursue it. The only way to do so is to "walk by faith, not by sight." Sight isn't enough. When our expectations are based merely on what we see and not on God's power we be fearful and ineffective for the kingdom. When we walk by faith we become courageous. We aspire to please God no matter how the circumstances look. We try to build the kingdom no matter what eventualities that seems to entail.
The fruit the kingdom bears proves the divine hand is at work behind the scenes giving it growth and life and vitality. We ourselves are meant to become the bearers of that fruit.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
They that are planted in the house of the LORD
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall bear fruit even in old age;
vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
Declaring how just is the LORD,
my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
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