Where is The Kingdom of God?
A Christian woman commented in a radio program that while she was witnessing to a man, he mocked her asking, “So, you are telling me that you belong to the heavenly kingdom, right? If that kingdom is real, can you tell me where it is?” He sarcastically insisted that she had to give him an address! The woman, who was a new believer, was unable to respond because she was also puzzled about the kingdom of heaven.
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying, the kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. (Luke 17: 20-21 – Amplified version)
Where exactly is the Kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God is the spiritual realm in which Jesus the Lord reigns. Every born-again Christian is part of such kingdom. It is living within us and among us. The power of it can be perceived in the transformed lives of the followers of Christ. It is not a physical kingdom that we can visit, but it is as real as anything we can touch or see. Angels, who are spiritual beings at the service of God, are part of it as well. (Matthew 26: 53)
God’s kingdom is real, but we are unable to see it, although on a few occasions God allowed people to behold it. In the time of the prophets, the king of Syria surrounded the city of Dothan to capture the prophet Elisha. When Elisha’s servant saw that they had no escape, he came to Elisha and asked him, “What shall we do?” The prophet responded, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6: 16-20)
Jesus told the Pharisees that the kingdom of God had already come because the beginning of Jesus’ ministry marked the beginning of God’s kingdom on earth (Matthew 4: 17). God himself was living among them. They couldn’t get any closer to His Kingdom than that! Yet, confirming Jesus words, they didn’t recognize that He was the Messiah promised by God.
It is a privilege beyond measure to be part of God’s kingdom. You are probably familiar with the story of David when he was being persecuted by Saul. The Bible tells us that “everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.” (1 Samuel 22: 1-5) Later in the story we learn that these men became renowned for their valor, loyalty and commitment to King David and his kingdom. The Bible says that they loved David so much, that they were willing to risk their own lives to please Him. We are pretty much like them. We were sinners, in distress, in debt and discontented; then Jesus, the Lord of Lords called us into His kingdom and promised to transform our lives in the same manner that David’s men were transformed. We are in this world, but we are not of this world. Let’s live lives that honor Him, fixing our eyes on His eternal kingdom, even willing to give up our lives for His cause.
Lord: help us to trust in you, even when we cannot see you working in our favor. Help us to live for you, even when we cannot behold your glory. Help us to live within the boundaries of your Kingdom, even if we cannot touch it.
“Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26: 53)
onetruthonegod
Jesus Bootcamp 