THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM
Over 2000 years ago Jesus came among us to show us the way to the Kingdom. Call it the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven or Nirvana; it is all the same thing. There are bible commentaries that attempt to distinguish between the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven but this is just men trying to make sense of what is to them otherwise insensible. Matthew rather likes to use the Kingdom of Heaven while Mark and Luke talk of it as the Kingdom of God; are they not talking about the same thing as in these scriptures show:
- From that time Jesus began to preach , and to say , Repent : for the kingdom of heaven is at hand . (Matthew 4:17)
- Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying , The time is fulfilled , and the kingdom of God is at hand : repent ye , and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)
Any doctrinal differences are just that; created by man perhaps to explain in human terms some other parts of the scripture or interpretations of prophecy. Clearly it can be seen that in terms of what the Master said these are the same even though the writers chose different words to express what He said.
And why do so many look to and wait on the end, the apocalypse or the Second Coming of Christ for the coming of the Kingdom of God. The way to the Kingdom should be clear to any who earnestly looks at the sayings of Jesus. Are not the words of Jesus are clear enough when He says “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold , the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21). Can it be rightly said then that the Kingdom is a state of consciousness; a state were one dwells in the Presence of God right here and right now; in the Secret Place of the Most High.
Let us look to Mark to further explain this: Jesus, talking with the scribes about the most important of the commandments tells them “The first of all the commandments is, Hear , O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Note how Jesus elevates His second commandment from the obscurity of a list of dos and don’ts in Leviticus to the status of being among the two greatest; without going back to check, many think that this is one of the original Ten Commandments that were written in stone…. I did.) He then tells the scribe who agrees and answers wisely “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” (read Mark 12:28-34). Now should we suppose that Jesus is telling the scribe that he will die soon and go to Heaven or should we say that he is telling the scribe that by his response he is showing that he is alive in the Presence of God and not far from finding the Kingdom of God within himself? It is of course the latter that fits with with the rest of Jesus’ teachings which promote Love above all else.
So Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is at hand very early in His public ministry and then sets about to show us the way and to tell that us the way is not an easy one. Look at the following scripture references:
- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
In the context of this, we should seek the Kingdom first; not just to know where it may be, because we already know where it is, but to dwell in the Kingdom while here on this Earth.
- Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14) and
- Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved ? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in , and shall not be able. (Luke 13:23-24).
We are told here of the difficulty of entering into the Kingdom. Not when we pass on and seek heaven but now, here on Earth. The strait gate is the narrow path into the Kingdom of God and it is entered by doing what the Master has instructed us to do beginning with Love, His most important commandment, and carrying forth to self forgetfulness, harmlessness and right speech; living consciously the spiritual life and not the life of the flesh. We tend to think at times that we have the time to straighten ourselves out and to live right in His eyes and be eligible for heaven when we die but this is not the teaching. The teaching is that we should seek the Kingdom and when we see it and its glory and its peace that we make every effort to enter into it and to take it. We can see the Kingdom when we spend our time on things of the spirit and not on the things of the flesh in our daily lives. This is being born again; this is being in the Presence of God; this is realizing the Kingdom of God within us. From the time of John the Baptist, when the Kingdom of God began to be preached, the word was that the Kingdom of God is at hand; it is available to those who want it and this is the Good News. If you want the Kingdom you need to take it; it is here and available to all as Jesus said to the people of the time: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12). Now this does not mean that violent men are taking the Kingdom by violence as some translations of the bible portray but it means that people are striving toward the strait gate to seize what Jesus and John said was available to them … The Kingdom of God. Would that we could all strive toward the strait gate and seize the Kingdom and make it our own. Nothing would please Him more.
Note on the Quote of the Day
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Today’s quote from the prophet Jeremiah was spoken when Israel was captive in Babylon and it was given along with the promise of their return from captivity and with thoughts of peace and good from the Lord. The requirement on the part of Israel; that they seek after Him with all their heart. The same is true today. If we are not seeking him at all or if we are double-minded or if we try to serve two masters we will not see the reward of His Presence and of living in the Kingdom here and now.
