My first response was, serve Him with my talents; I want to light up my world for God. Later, I remembered the difference between religion and a relationship. Religion says do this and God will love you. A relationship says I do this because I love you, not because I don’t want to lose my soul.
Religious people do things to get something from God. Christianity says, serve God, and love with your life. We do what we do out of love for God, not the world. I am called to fix my eyes on things above—the real kingdom of heaven, not below.
The Pharisees thought the Messiah would establish His kingdom here; they misinterpreted the enthronement Psalms (Psalm 47, 93, 96, 97, 98, and 99) as an kingdom on earth.
However, we serve an awesome God and in the New Testament the Messiah clarifies this world is a fallen kingdom with a fallen king (John 18:36.) His disciples understood this world is fading away and God is building a bigger kingdom.
KINGDOMS?
It’s interesting how the dictionary defines kingdom:
• The eternal kingship of God.
• The realm in which God’s will is fulfilled.
• An area in which one holds a dominant position.
Earth isn’t permanent and although God is sovereign, most people don’t acknowledge Him as Lord. Thus, it can’t be the fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven; I don’t care what John Lennon or Mercy Me sing, we can’t imagine what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like (1 Corinthians 2:9.)
Jesus tried to explain what the kingdom of heaven is like and it isn’t what we expect. He talked about a man who sold all of his earthly possessions to buy a field with a hidden treasure, because the kingdom of heaven is priceless (Matthew 13:44.) The idea is nothing on earth can compare to the riches of Heaven. The only way for a believer to live their best life now is to die and go to Heaven.
Last month a group of young soccer players became trapped in a cave, it seemed the whole world came together to rescue them. There was a universal love of man. The disciple John had a vision of every nation coming together and worshiping God in Heaven (Revelation 7:9.)
In another story Jesus tells His followers unless they become like children, they can’t enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3.) Matthew Henry explains, “Children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outward distinctions, are free from malice, are teachable, and willingly dependent on their parents.”
If you’ve read the book of Revelation, you know it’s a story of two kingdoms–the kingdom of heaven replacing the kingdom of earth—the eternal replacing the temporary (Rev. 21:1-4.) This world is going to end, God will burn it down. This is why Jesus told His followers to concentrate on things above, not Houses and cars (Matthew 6:33.)
Georgia pastor Bill Purvis stated, “This world is the closest to heaven the lost will ever get; it’s the closest to hell, Christians were ever get.” Religious people want their heaven now, they teach the lie that God always says yes; Christians know heaven is coming with Jesus.
One day paradise will be restored and God’s people will live with Him in the kingdom of heaven forever. Jesus explained He is preparing a better, eternal home (John 14:2.)
The Greek word used for mansion in the New Testament is Mone and it doesn’t just mean a mansion with extravagant architecture, it means an abode and abide with.
The idea is to be with God in heaven, it’s when believers start living. If the church seeks material blessings, we are not doing kingdom work, our religion is simply chaining us to the world that our King died to break every chain from.
KINGDOM WORK?
We are called the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13), which brings me back to the question by the Rock star writer earlier.
A. W. Tozer noted, “Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common as to excite little notice.” Lord, forgive us for our religion. Jesus said we’re known by our love for one another (John 13:35.)
History teaches it’s possible to think we are doing things for God and be pursuing our own desires. The Pharisees (God’s people) stoned a first century deacon to death, of course in the name of God (Acts 7:54-60.)
The holy crusades were a pursuit of religious power in the holy land. They glorified self, not God, they pursued the wrong kingdoms.
