It should be pursued and prioritised
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 ESV). If we want to learn lessons about the kingdom of God, then surely this first mention of the phrase is a good place to start. The kingdom of God is the place where the ruler is no ordinary man – it is God Himself. The priority of every person in this world, regardless of where they presently live, should be to prepare for the kingdom of God. Not only should this be a priority, but the word “seek” indicates the need for an active and intentional pursuit of those things relating to the kingdom of God. Having given these matters the attention they deserve, we are promised that everything else in life will fall into place accordingly
It was previewed in the life of the Lord Jesus
In Luke 11:20, the Lord Jesus tells people who are casting aspersions on where He got His power that “the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Here, the Lord was casting out demons by the Spirit of God (cp. Matthew 12:28). The people He was speaking to would have been familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures telling of a kingdom where there will be universal peace (Isaiah 9:6-7), with harmony in the animal kingdom as well as between animals and humans (Isaiah 11:6-9), where disease will be eradicated (Isaiah 33:24) and death will be the exception, only occurring as judgement for rebellion against Christ’s righteous rule (Isaiah 65:20) The fact that the Lord Jesus was performing such miracles was proof that God’s appointed Messiah had come. Therefore, in the life and ministry of Jesus we see, in embryonic form, evidence that the kingdom of God had come upon the people of that generation.
It is promised to those who are born again
To a religious man called Nicodemus, one who, we assume from his conversation with the Lord Jesus, was expecting to see the kingdom of God, the message was clear: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 ESV). This came as a surprise to Nicodemus, as is often the case today when “religious” people are faced with the same challenge. Nevertheless, I am left in no doubt: unless I have an experience which makes me, not a better person but a new person altogether, then there is no place for me in the kingdom of God. This kind of heart-change is what is promised by God in the Old Testament, to those who will one day inherit the kingdom of God, when he says: “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26 ESV).
May I ask, have you had that experience? Are you sure your place in “the kingdom of God” is secure?
