The Kingdom of God

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"If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you."-Jesus Christ


What is it in you that you can bring forth to share with the world? Is it love, patience, kindness for strangers? Are you a database administrator, lawyer, doctor? All these things can work together for the kingdom of God that is within you. And Jesus said that the kingdom is like a mustard seed... the smallest seed that grows into one of the largest trees. God will multiply your efforts and make you effective if you devote yourself to sharing the kingdom with those around you. I believe that it is a place in the heart where everyone gives up their vices as they are transformed into the creatures God intended for them to be. It is something that is within you that bleeds out into the world. The effects of the kingdom coming are not the world itself, for that is not the kingdom, but the effect on the world with the changing of people's hearts would be revolutionary. "Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed [like an Earthly kingdom], nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”" It is not a place, but it will be here, it comes from within. He was telling the Pharisees this because they believed the kingdom would be the physical rebirth of Jerusalem and a throwing off of the oppression of Rome. But he was saying that it is a transforming of hearts. God is sovereign over the kingdom, he is sovereign over our hearts.


 I think Jesus saying that it is within you separates it from the concept of a utopia. Though the effects of the kingdom of God coming to peoples hearts would make the world a much nicer place to inhabit. The kingdom of God is defined by the sovereignty of God. He is God over our hearts.

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