The Kingdom of God!

There have been countless debates with regards to the Kingdom of God. Many wonder what it is, where it is and what it will be like, living in there!

Some think that the Kingdom of God is in heaven and only in heaven. But Jesus said otherwise. Even John the Baptist was ushering in the Kingdom of God and when the promised Saviour came, He, Jesus said, "the Kingdom of God is within you!" Luke17:21

First of all let us see what a Kingdom is. It is a land or place ruled by a king. So obviously the Kingdom of God is where God rules. Therefore wherever God rules, whomever God rules, His Lordship, His Rulership, His Kingdom, His Government is established there.

Let us examine what Jesus said about God's Kingdom.:-

In John 3:3-7, Jesus said,
"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again"
"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."

Therefore to get a glimpse of  God's Kingdom and to enter in and experience it, one must be born again of the water and the Spirit of God. Therefore only baptised believers, who are born again of the Spirit of God, can enter God's Kingdom.

In Matthew 11:12, Jesus said, "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."

God's kingdom has been forcefully advancing through John the Baptist who shouted, "Repent and be baptised!" ;  Through the Son of God who forcefully gave up His life for us and later through the apostles and disciples who forcefully preached the Word. We too are called to advance His Kingdom. We can only do it if we are violent enough and grab it. That means we must know what it is and work wholeheartedly and selflessly in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and establishing God's Kingdom every where we go, despite our circumstances and the danger we go through. We must go and pray for people, get them healed, tell people about Jesus, teach them about His ways and get them baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit, in order for God's Kingdom to be established in their hearts and around them.

Now the question is can we experience it on earth? Yes we can! That is why Jesus came. He wants us to live under His rulership and experience the joys of the Kingdom of God even while here on earth. Then finally when our journey on earth ends, we will be forever united with Jesus in His Kingdom in heaven.

How then can we experience God's Kingdom while on earth? Well, if a king is a tyrant then his subjects will be suffering under his tyranny. But we know that our God is abounding in mercy, kindness and love. Therefore in His Kingdom, wherever God rules and reigns, be it your family or your heart or your workplace, there will be peace, love and joy unending there.

How can one continually live in peace, love and joy when there is so much of chaos, sickness, turmoil  and war on earth, you may ask! Let us see what Jesus said about this. In John 16:33 Jesus told His apostles, " These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus also said in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."

Jesus also said one more important thing about God's kingdom, in Luke 18:17 (NASB)

Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

First we must be child-like. What are the qualities of a child? Innocence, a trusting heart, humility and faith in Christ. Yes these are the qualities we need, to receive the kingdom of God. The most important of all is the free gift of faith from God. All other gifts flow through faith, which acts as a channel. Then, when we receive God's kingdom with child-like faith, we can enter into it. 

Conclusion:- In God's Kingdom there will be unending peace, love and joy. In this world you can't find that. To enjoy the benefits of God's Kingdom, we must be a baptised Christian, one who is born again and fired up by the Holy Spirit and one who has faith in Jesus and abides in Him at all times. In this world we may face sickness, problems, lack, but when we have Christ in us, we will be living in unending peace, joy and love.

That is why Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name. Let Your Kingdom come and let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

When we begin living under the Lordship of our Father in the Kingdom of God, we can safely proclaim with Paul, "We give you thanks Father, You Who have qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For You have delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of Your Beloved Son!" (Col 1:12-13)

Mary Augustine