When you hear the word “kingdom,” what do you think of? Personally, I think of a king in royal robes sitting on a throne with a scepter in his hand, surrounded by a royal court made up of knights and jesters. I think of a castle surrounded by a wall and a moat, separating it from the lower class made up of tradesmen and peasants. In short, when I hear the word “kingdom,” I think of a scene from a fairytale.
However, the idea of a kingdom isn’t so far removed from our reality like our imaginations might have us believe. Every day we pledge allegiance to the kingdoms of the land, the kingdoms of our own making. But when we accept the saving power of the gospel, we enter the Kingdom of God. Mark 1:15 says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The idea of the Kingdom of God refers to God’s reign over all of creation and all of humanity. There will be a day in the future where every knee and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord and King, but we have the opportunity to start declaring His praises here and now.
When we proclaim the excellencies of our God and King, we are marked by child-like humility, concern for the disenfranchised, sacrificial service, and an unequivocal love for God and others.
Members of the Kingdom of God are visibly marked and set apart from the world around them. It’s not the stuff of fairytales either – it’s real life and you can be a part of it here and now by saying “yes” to Jesus.
