The Kingdom of God is Calling

Have you ever heard the saying "I don't want to learn something new because now I might be asked to do it?" You know, the whole ignorance is bliss deal. As believers in Jesus Christ and the Good News, we are not privy to ignorance or turning the other cheek.

I trust most of us have know Jesus for some time, we have been transformed by Him and we're grateful for the eternity we have because of Him. And because we have invited Him into our lives there is no room for us to deny Him or ignore Him. He wants all of us or nothing. We can't pretend we haven't heard the Good News or been changed because of it.

I have been so draw recently to the Biblical phrase recently, "the Kingdom of God." The New Living Translation has 66 references to it and so it has caused me to meditate and pray about the "Kingdom of God" and all that it entails.

I am a very passionate person about the things that I love and because I feel called to a deep relationship with Jesus I try to keep moving forward in my relationship with Him. I have heard the Good News, I have received Jesus in my heart and I know that He has changed me. For me, there is no turning back and my desire is to see everyone burn with a heart for Jesus. It doesn't require that we all work at a church to love the Lord and chase Him.

While I know that not everyone expresses their love for Jesus like I do, I have noticed that a lot of people can get complacent in their walk with the Lord and that includes me at times. That's where the "Kingdom of God" comes in. My study has taken me to understand the Kingdom of God to be the place where we will reign with Christ someday and we must pursue it all costs or we run the risk of backsliding.

Jesus explains in his parables that the Kingdom of God is like anything from a mustard seed to little children. He tells us that the door to the kingdom is narrow, it will be tough for the rich to enter and if one of your body parts is causing you to sin you would be better off to get rid of it.

However, three passages about the Kingdom of God cause me to stand up and notice. They are all passages from the Apostle Paul and they address our inheritance of the Kingdom.

" When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21

"Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world." Ephesians 5:3-5

"Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

I think it's worthwhile to reviews these lists periodically and make sure we haven't backslid any. It's easy to become righteous when it comes to homosexuality, but what about greed, idolatry, envy and division. While I feel my salvation is secure, it causes me to never take it for granted. Jesus calls us to "take up our cross daily" so why not be saved daily.

These lists also point out that if we are truly followers of Christ we should be motivated to continually grow in Him, being led by the Spirit, or we run the risk of apathy. Since it's easy for us to rank sin as some being worse than others we need to remember that it's all detestable to God. I know I need periodic reminders and thank goodness for His Word.

I pray that we would all carry the enthusiasm for Jesus in our lives, but also to the unsaved as well. If you haven't noticed lately and you'd have to be living in the North Pole for the last 10 years, but our world and our culture is in steady decline. We've had fires, earthquakes and floods, but through it all there is still hope. And his name is Jesus and we need to tell others while there is still time. Listen to the words of Jesus.

" The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Mark 1:15