What is the kingdom and how do you define it? According to various people, ‘kingdom’ can mean several things. To some, the definition of the kingdom is a palace or a castle, where rulers live with a high level of protection.
Some people desire to rule the world according to their own desire, even it means to be selfish and greedy, and to be protected all times. To others, the kingdom may mean their self-controlled earth, also known as living a life according to how they want to live.
Nevertheless, there is a dangerous trap if we follow our feelings. They come and go. To be specific, they most often are blockages for us if we want to live a life with stability. We consistently pursue something or someone but in the end, we find out that we are not going to have an abundant and satisfactorily life.
For instance, I love to play role-playing games. So, I downloaded one version of Pokemon games on the computer. The aim of the game is to earn eight badges and win a Pokemon league.
Some people like me like to catch as many strong Pokemon as we can and level them up to 100. While I was doing that, I usually got bored so I downloaded another new version and tried to do the same thing. It never ends.
Therefore, I quit the game. Not only was I not able to make my life satisfactory but that game was disorienting my mind. I have to put my natural feelings and desires aside and to focus on the real world.
Godly Kingdom
Jesus Christ declared that a different kind of kingdom has come near to us:
‘From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”’ (Matthew chapter 4, verse 17)
‘After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”’ (Mark chapter 1, verses 14-15)
As Christians, it is crucial for us to know that we all belong to the kingdom of God.
Since we have been separated from God by following our intellectual mindset (Genesis chapter 3, verses 1-23), God restored our relationship and unity with Him through the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans chapter 6, verses 1-23).
In other words, God granted us to have eternal life through Jesus.
When Martha was doubting that Jesus did not come to Lazarus in time, as he was about to die, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John chapter 11, verses 25-26)
Although the kingdom of God is the final destination for followers of Christ, Jesus also announced that this kingdom became a present reality as His earthly life was the embodiment of it.
Before He left the earth to sit in the right hand of His Father in the spiritual realm, He promised that the Holy Spirit, the advocate, would come and dwell within Christians.
This means that although the kingdom of God is far away from believers, they could experience the reality of His kingdom through the Holy Spirit as He was resurrected from the dead (John chapter 16, verses 7-15).
“There is life after death. Eternal life with God. God wants to restore His original vision of life with us in the garden. The only way back into the garden (which can be called heaven or God’s kingdom) is through faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who embrace Christ in this life are reconciled to God and become a new creation with a new identity.” (Randy Frazee, Believe: Student Edition)
The Adventure for Christians
The best method to have a godly life probably is to have joyous hearts of Christ and Christlike behaviours in everything we do (Romans chapter 8, verses 28-30). After all, every one of us have been created in the image of God (Genesis chapter 1, verse 27).
The kingdom experiences and the provision of God’s goodness to us are foretaste of what the kingdom of God is like. These produce hope that His kingdom will be incredibly good and enjoyable even beyond what we can imagine.
So, let us not forget these as we together participate in kingdom works (1 Peter chapter 1, verses 3-9)!
For example, several people are helping me to become an independent person, so I could flat with others. The reason that I desire to flat with people is that I may encourage and build them up in Christ (Genesis chapter 12, verses 1-3).
My hope when I get to enter the kingdom of God after my physical death is that God says, “Well done good and faithful servant. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy chapter 4, verses 7-8)
Kevin Park is studying at Carey Baptist College and finds that Christian-writing is his ultimate will of God and his ultimate method to build the kingdom of God. He started to become a Christian writer from 2013. Other than his writing life, Kevin desires to see that each finds everlasting satisfaction in God, the Almighty. You will be able to contact him at kevin.park1991@gmail.com. He loves to encourage others spiritually.
Kevin Park’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/kevin-park.html