The Kingdom Is Near

WHEN IT COMES TO LONG AND EXHAUSTIVE WORK DAY, AN EXTENDED VACATION OR EVEN WEEKEND GET-AWAY, WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THE END WHEN WE CAN FINALLY GO BACK TO THE COMFORT OF OUR OWN HOME.

ANTICIPATION. DESPITE THE EXCITEMENT OF TIME AWAY, BREATH-TAKING ADVENTURES, AND THE JOYS OF SEEING FAMILY, THERE IS STILL THAT AMAZING FEELING OF PULLING INTO THE DRIVE WAY AND, WITH A COLLECTIVE SIGH, SAYING, “WE’RE HOME.”

SPEAKING OF “HOME,” AS CHRISTIANS, HAVE WE SET OUR HEARTS AND PREPARED OURSELVES FOR LIVING ETERNALLY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD? I REALIZE EVERYONE WISHES TO LIVE A LONG AND FULFILLING LIFE ON EARTH, BUT DO WE LIVE OUR LIVES IN HOLY ANTICIPATION AND PREPARATION FOR OUR TRUE HOME IN HEAVEN?

AFTER ALL, WE’VE HEARD IT SAID MANY TIMES, “THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME.” JESUS, WHEN ANSWERING PILATE, SAID IN JOHN 18:36, “…MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. IF IT WERE, MY SERVANTS WOULD FIGHT TO PREVENT MY ARREST BY THE JEWISH LEADERS. BUT NOW MY KINGDOM IS FROM ANOTHER PLACE.”

WE ARE, AS PETER STATED, IN 1 PETER 2:11, “ALIENS AND EXILES"IN THIS WORLD. BUT, SOMETIMES IT SEEMS EASY TO GET THIS CONCEPT BACKWARDS. SOME LIVE AS IF EARTH IS THEIR ORIGINAL HOME AND HEAVEN IS “JUST THAT PLACE THEY GO” AFTER THEY DIE. WE MUST ALWAYS FIGHT TO KEEP OUR ETERNAL FOCUS WHILE LIVING ON THIS EARTH IN THIS FINITE WORLD.

YES, WE STILL HAVE OUR DUTIES AND OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF LIVING OUR EARTHLY LIFE. WE WOULD BE FOOLISH TO FORSAKE THEM BECAUSE WE MUST WORK FOR A LIVING, PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILY, AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THAT WE DO.

WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THE THINGS OF OUR LIVES MUST BE ADJUSTED AND PUT IN THEIR PROPER PRIORITY. OUR TOP PRIORITY SHOULD BE BASED OFF THE BOLD ANSWER JESUS GAVE HIS MOTHER AS A YOUNG BOY IN THE TEMPLE IN LUKE 2:49, “DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS?”

WE MUST BE ABOUT THE “FATHER’S BUSINESS.” WE HAVE THE CALLING OF DOING “KINGDOM WORK” WHILE HERE IN THIS LIFE. WE FIND THE PROPER BALANCE BETWEEN EARTHLY AND KINGDOM DUTIES BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW THERE IS PLENTY TO DO. WE ALLOW THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS TO

BRING JESUS INTO OUR DAILY TASKS, CONVERSATIONS, AND DUTIES.

I THINK THIS IS WHY JESUS SAID IN VERSE 2 “THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW; THEREFORE ASK THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST.”

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A CHALLENGE TO KEEP OURCOMPETING INTERSTS OF THE WORLD FROM SUPERSCEDING OUR WORK FOR THE KINGDOM AS JESUS NOTED THAT “THE LABORERS ARE FEW.” HE KNOWS OUR HUMAN NATURE TO BE FEARFUL AND MAKE EXCUSES .

DON’T EVER LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR MAIN PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE. WE HAVE THE AMAZING PRIVILEGE AND OBLIGATION TO WORK FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. WE HAVE THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCLAIM THE SAME MESSAGE “THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.”

THIS IS WHY JESUS SAID, IN VERSE 2, THAT THE “HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL.” HE WAS STRESSING THE URGENCY TO PURSUE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO REACH OTHERS FOR JESUS. THE HARVEST FOR HUMAN SOULS IS GREAT AND WE SHOULD BE IN GREAT CONCERN.

ROMANS 10:13-15, FOR “EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” BUT HOW CAN THEY CALL ON HIM TO SAVE THEM UNLESS THEY BELIEVE IN HIM? AND HOW CAN THEY BELIEVE IN HIM IF THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT HIM? AND HOW CAN THEY HEAR ABOUT HIM UNLESS SOMEONE TELLS THEM….?

WHEN JESUS SAID “THE KINGDOM IS NEAR,” HE WAS LITERALLY SAYING THAT IT IS ALREADY BOTH “ALREADY HERE” AND “SOON TO COME.” JESUS SAID GOD’S KINGDOM BEGINS IN OUR HEARTS AT SALVATION AND IS AS NEAR TO US AS OUR WILLINGNESS TO MAKE JESUS KING OVER OUR LIFE.

THE CALL IS URGENT: “NOW” IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR DECISION TO RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL. NOW IS THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY AND HELP LEAD OTHERS TO JESUS! NOW IS THE TIME FOR SINGLE-HEARTED DEVOTION TO KINGDOM MISSIONS.

THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST IS BEING OFFERED TO THE WORLD ON A CONTINUAL BASIS IN EVERY LANGUAGE AND EVERY COUNTRY THROUGH MISSIONS, THE PRINTED WORD, CHURCHES, TECHNOLOGY, AND EVER FORM OF MEDIA. THE GOSPEL IS GIVEN OUT IN SUCH A WAY THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO MISS IT.

WE MUST FAITHFULLY PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE THAT SALVATION IS FOUND IN NO OTHER NAME, BUT JESUS CHRIST. IN ACTS 4:12, IT SAYS “THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE! GOD HAS GIVEN NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.”

WE MUST PICK UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OUR SAVIOR. WE RESPOND IN SANCTIFIED WAYS TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LIVE OUT AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL.