March 20, 2018 TWO KINGDOMS
John 18:36 “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’”
Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Jesus came announcing that another kingdom, the kingdom of God, had come to earth. There are only two kingdoms; the kingdom of this world, (kingdom of darkness, or the kingdom of Satan), and the kingdom of God. Even though we do not see Satan in a physical way, he is nonetheless ruling the kingdom of this world-and he does so in a subtle and deceitful way. Proof of his being subtle and deceitful is that the vast majority of non-believers would deny the existence of Satan, and certainly his ruling there life. Revelations 12:9 tells us that Satan deceives the whole world and 2 Corinthians tells us that he is scheming. Satan’s primary strategy is that of convincing man that fulfillment is found in satisfying self, or having self on the throne of our life. Everyone is physically born into the kingdom of this world and unless one is born anew into the kingdom of God, this world system is all they know. Being born again into the kingdom of God, being transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13), is an amazing miracle to say the least. The kingdom of God is in stark contrast to the kingdom of Satan and it is impossible to blend the two or for the two to co-exist. When one is born into the kingdom of God, a total transformation takes place, and at the core of this transformation is that of being given a new spirit, a new heart, and a new mind. 1 Peter 2:9. There are many contrast in the two kingdoms; one major contrast is that in the kingdom of this world system, love is a selfish love where personal benefit is the goal. In the kingdom of God, the love of God rules and His love is a giving love that blesses others. Another contrast, as alluded to above, is that in this world system, the primary goal is self-fulfillment, whereas in God’s kingdom, fulfillment is realized not from satisfying self, but from living in a way that pleases our heavenly Father. There is a warning that believers should take note of. It is possible for a believer to turn from the light and once again walk in the darkness-but if and when he does, the Holy Spirit will convict him in his heart of the error of his way, while the lost person can be content in darkness because that is all he knows. (The book of Galatians was written to believers who had turned from the truth of the gospel.) For the believer, it is crucial that we carry out the instruction given in 1 John 1:7: “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Let us remember the words of 1 Peter 2:11-12 where he tells us that believers are ‘aliens, strangers, and sojourners’ in this world. As we ‘sojourn’ through this world, let us represent the kingdom that we are now a part of-the kingdom of God; even though we are surrounded by the darkness of this world, we walk in the light of God’s glorious kingdom-may our life be evidence of that.
Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly await for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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