The Kingdom of God Is Upon Us

We've been studying the past few weeks about what is formally called "Epiphany" in the early chapters of the gospel accounts. It's about the unveiling or revealing of Jesus Christ to the world in different ways. One of the things he immediately starts to teach is about the kingdom of God. Normally when we think of a kingdom, we want to see an actual territory with borders, but as it's used in the Bible, the word includes physical as well as spiritual territory, and refers to the rulership, influence and authority of God wherever it may be occurring -- primarily in those who believe and obey him.

Jesus said in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” He didn't mean that nothing would happen for 2,000 years or more, although the final fulfillment is still not upon us. But he did mean that in himself, in his teachings and his healings and as he cast out demons and showed people who God truly is, the kingdom had broken into the world. It's still breaking into the world through you and me, in two ways.

First, inside of you and me, in the way we think and relate to God, and are made into a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), and as we are brought into more and more of the likeness of Jesus every day. We read in 2 Cor. 3:18, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." Our personal lives should be continuing to be changed from our old self to our new self, (a simple way of putting it) but that new self is Christ in us, not just our old self trying harder.

Second, the kingdom of God comes into the world as you and I spread it ourselves, like Jesus did, through word and deed. Our ongoing mission is to "make disciples of all nations" as Jesus said, first of all by our example of Christian love and action, and also with our words as we have opportunities to "give a reason of the hope that is within us" (1 Pet 3:15).

The kingdom of God continues to spread, like leaven and like a growing plant (Mat. 13:31-33). You and I both have ways to participate in that. Let's pray that the Holy Spirit guides us into all the opportunities he has for us to help it spread, today and every day!