THINK KINGDOM

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst (or within your grasp).” (Luke 17:20-21 ASV, ESV)

The Pharisees in one respect were ahead of most of us - they knew that the kingdom of God was coming, and they were looking for it.  They knew well Old Testament passages like Isaiah 9:6-7

For a child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will be upon His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

And who wouldn't prefer David’s greater Son as King in place of the iron fist of Rome?  The Pharisees, however, were wrong about what the King would look like, and how His kingdom would come.  This humble, poor, simple man in front of them surely could not be He.  And where were the armies that would follow Him into battle as He pushed the Romans into the sea – this rag-tag group of fishermen following Jesus?  A kingdom that would not come with signs to be observed didn't sound like much of a kingdom.  Even if it was in their midst, they didn't seem to be too excited about finding it.

One Pharisees, however, Nicodemus, really wanted to know how to enter the kingdom of God, so Jesus told him, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God… you must be born again.”  (John 3:5b, 7b)  So, if you are born again, you have the privilege of entering the kingdom of God, but what does that mean?  Most of us, I think, just throw around that term, kingdom of God, without giving it much thought.  Let’s take a closer look.

First of all it must mean that I have a King, and His name is Jesus.  He is rightful King in the kingdom of God, because, as the angel told Mary in Luke 2:32, “the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”  Jesus was born the King of the kingdom of God, just like any earthly king is born into a family of kings.  Secondly if I am in His kingdom, I am expected to live under His authority, His rule, and His law. But as with all good kings, I am also under His protection, and His care.  I can trust Him to provide all that I need.  Bottom line: my life is not my own, nor is any of the stuff I call my own – it all belongs to King Jesus.  I trust myself fully to Him.

Being Americans in the kingdom of God requires some adjustment in our thinking.  We love our independence, our democracy, our freedoms, our life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  It is all about us.  In the kingdom of God, however, it is all about Jesus.  So, do we lose or gain upon entering the Kingdom of God?  We lose bondage to sin, and gain life and true freedom; we (hopefully) lose our stubborn self-will and independence, and gain simple faith and trust in good King Jesus; we lose control of our lives (control is an illusion anyway), and gain a Good Shepherd to lead us; and we avoid the eternal suffering and regret of all who remain outside the kingdom of God, and gain a place with King Jesus ruling and reigning with Him forever.  Sound good?  Think kingdom.