In a world where there were once over one hundred monarchies, or forms of government ruled by a sovereign head of state such as a king, queen, or emperor, there exist only about 43 today. A kingdom is a type of monarchy, specifically, the governing rule of a king over his territory and impacting it with his will, intent, and purpose for his people. Such a rule creates a culture, values, morals, and beliefs that align with the king’s purpose and desires. Even greater, the Kingdom of Heaven is the government of God for and through his people. For Believers, entry into the Kingdom of Heaven is both an important Bible topic and a life goal; so important it is presented and detailed numerous times. But what exactly is it?
First, one must believe that (John 3:16) God loved the world so much that he gave his son as a holy sacrifice, to make way for his creation to be in a relationship with him and part of his kingdom. Then, as each expresses that belief, through faith in Jesus Christ and trust in him as Lord and Savior, one becomes an heir to the promises and whole word of God, our King! Based on the definition of a kingdom, Believers are spiritual residents of the Kingdom of Heaven, which territory extends to earth wherever God’s people are present, to demonstrate all that lines up with the King’s purpose and desires in exchange for the protection, provision, and positioning for success that he ensures for his citizens.
Along with the love God has demonstrated — in fact, the Bible says God is love (1 John 4:16) — he has also literally given us his Word. Jesus is the logos, the WORD of God, and, even more, the mind of God. If we abide in love, God abides in us, and with him, we get his mind which Jesus understood perfectly and used parables (relatable earthly stories with a spiritual heavenly meaning) to teach us.
Some of the parables Jesus used to teach us about the importance of the Kingdom related to its value, expansion, inclusivity, and stewardship through Believers’ faith and ambassadorship include:
- the impact of small faith, seen in The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
- the ultimate value of acquiring the Kingdom, even at the loss of everything else, shown in The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)
- the fact that God has a plan and that, even though on earth all creation lives, works, and grows together, ultimately his righteous people will be separated out and made to shine forth in his Kingdom (The Parable of the Wheat and Tares, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
- the importance of living our individual lives in a “Kingdom-wise” manner (e., righteously and obediently), in order to be prepared for Jesus’ return, earthly reign, and our time to rule with him (The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13, Revelation 5:10)
- God’s clear purpose for his creation; is to work using what he has put in our hands at what he has given us in particular to do; to his glory and not to serve our ourselves. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) demonstrates that God entrusts us with resources and rewards us for our well-doing and accountability concerning the work he has called us to do.
- and God’s generosity, grace, and justice, in terms of making the same reward available to all, no matter the length of time they have been a part of the Kingdom (The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Matthew 20:1-16)
From even these few scriptures, we can see that the Kingdom of Heaven is an important part of the Christian faith. Actually, Jesus discusses the Kingdom of Heaven over 21 times in the New Testament, and his teachings are presented from various perspectives through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Very clearly, it is a spiritual kingdom that exists both now and in the future; not just a place, but a state of being where God reigns over all things.
How can one be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven?
The answer is quite simple. It is found in Jesus Christ. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” says Jesus in John 14:6. It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we become a part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
What do we do with our faith in Jesus?
The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This means that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe that he died on the cross for our sins and rose again, we are saved and become a part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
As a citizen of the Kingdom, now what?
Being a part of the Kingdom of Heaven means living a life that is pleasing to God by living in obedience to his commands and following his will for our lives. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This means we replace striving for things as we did in the world with trusting God to meet our every need just as a good king would because the success of a king depends upon the well-being, safety, and prosperity of his kingdom. Our priority as Believers is to be about that Kingdom life! We are to seek the Kingdom of Heaven first, and then simply to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves which is the greatest commandment that Jesus gave us (Mark 12:30-31).
Learn The Way, Live the Life, Connect with others focused on Christ
If you want to learn more about the Kingdom of Heaven and how to live a life that is pleasing to God, we invite you to visit us at Abundant Faith Baptist Church at 8906 Humble-Westfield Road in Humble, Texas 77388. You can also find us online at moreabundantfaith.org. Whether you connect with us physically or virtually, we look forward to coming together as Believers to shine in the world and demonstrate that the Kingdom of Heaven is not just a future hope but a present, blessed reality.
