When I think of kingdoms I imagine scenes of epic battles in far off lands ruled by kings and queens in stone castles. It’s not too dissimilar to how I see the kingdom of heaven in some ways, a far of place that is disconnected to the realities of our lives here on earth. Until the day we die, the reality of heaven has hardly any relevance or importance to our day-to-day work, relationships and worries. But when Jesus prays in Matthew 6:10, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, does it mean that we can somehow see or experience heaven now, here on earth?
Philippians 3:20 reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven, and that we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Though we live on earth we belong to a kingdom in which Jesus is king, we are travelers making our way home to a place were God himself will be with us.
Just as a kingdom is a place where a king reigns, I believe that the kingdom of God is a place in our hearts, where the way we live, the attitudes we take and things we do are influenced by a better way of living. In the hearts and lives of God’s people here on earth we can catch glimpses of God’s heavenly kingdom.
Difficult it maybe at times for my mind to conceive what the kingdom of God will be like; the thought of God’s kingdom fills me with excitement and hope. Just as it’s described as hidden treasure and fine pearls, we would be foolish not to give up everything we have to receive it.
He will wipe every tear from our eyes, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. When I read these words in Revelation 21:4, I realize that the kingdom heaven is a place that God longs so much for everyone to be, to be free from all our struggles, to be free from sin and darkness and to be free to love him for eternity.
This was a break from our normal series. You can find the message as well as the worship at the BCEC Sermon Page or listen to last week’s sermon directly – The Kingdom of God