BUILDING BRIDGES TO THE KINGDOM

Ptr. Erwin Concepcion

October 01, 2019

 

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Matthew 25:31-34 (KJV)

 

               "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then                   shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all                               nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his                         sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on                     the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of                         my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"

 

Reflection:

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Scripture refers to "the kingdom of God" frequently, but many people are unclear as to its meaning. Let's look at the past, present, and future reality of this concept.

 

 

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The first thing we must realize is that the heavenly kingdom refers to everything under Christ's control. At the moment of salvation, we are transferred from the reign of darkness to the bright authority of Jesus. And we are eternally secure in Him.

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As today's verses explain, Jesus' kingdom and reign have been planned since the foundation of the world. From the beginning, God has been preparing mankind for what is to come. One way was by using prophets to foretell how He would redeem humanity and sovereignly rule over heaven and earth. Once Jesus came and gave His life, He established the "present" kingdom. This isn't a geographical locale; it's a term describing the heart, where God's Holy Spirit indwells believers to guide, counsel, and empower.

 

 

But there is also a future aspect of the kingdom, which we can anticipate with excitement. You are probably familiar with the words "Thy kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2/KJV). This speaks of the new heaven and new earth, where we will enjoy freedom from pain and sin. There, we will worship Jesus with gladness and joy for all eternity.

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As God's kingdom ambassadors, we who are His children have the responsibility and privilege of sharing the good news: Through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, all who trust in Him are forgiven of sin and assured of eternal life with God. Whom can you tell about this amazing gift?

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Prayer:

Our Father, thank you that out of many troubles, struggles, uncertainties we are facing in this world, we have a place in heaven you prepared for us where we can finally at rest in love with total peace in Your presence. As your obedient children, we’ll proclaim this good news to the world. I pray to You, in Jesus Name, Amen.