The Father's Heart预览

The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come

When the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came to our world, so did the kingdom of heaven. Christ did not isolate His message to one or two aspects of the kingdom. The headline “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17) was an invitation to purify our hearts that we might see the face of God and experience the wondrous glory of heaven on earth.

Jesus said that before His second coming there would also be a second manifestation of heaven (Dan. 2:44). Just as the power and life of heaven accompanied the Lord in earthly ministry, this same heavenly life would similarly empower and flow through His people in the last years of this age.

Signs and wonders, as heralds of His imminent return, would accompany the proclaiming of His message. He said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14).

Salvation is a foundational dimension of spiritual life; it is part of the kingdom gospel. Salvation is a gift: believe and be saved. The kingdom gospel, however, costs us. We cannot serve two masters; the kingdom gospel is a treasure hidden in a field. It costs us our all but gives us God’s best. It includes not only all the verses modern Christians highlight in their Bibles but also those we skim or ignore because they are unattainable until our focus lifts to the standards of God’s kingdom.

One might argue that most of the world has heard the gospel. Yes, they have heard about Jesus; they have also heard about salvation and forgiveness, but few have seen the demonstrated power of the gospel of the kingdom. Yet that is precisely what Jesus said would be revealed before His return. He said, “this gospel,” meaning His gospel as He taught and demonstrated it. Is it possible that the kingdom of heaven is near enough to reach from where we are?

To those who love Christ and follow Him, the reality of heaven will become increasingly visible. Not only will there be more miracles, but there will be wonders in the heavens and signs on earth (Acts 2:19).

As we stand before the Lord in our day, we are aware of the darkness covering the earth, and deep darkness its people, but let us stay focused, for certainly among all the signs of the end—increasing wickedness, geophysical trauma (earthquakes), lawlessness, and despair—the God of heaven is simultaneously setting up His kingdom. For behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.