The Gospel of the Kingdom

The kingdom that arrived in Christ is the same one promised in the Scriptures long before.The Kingdom of Heaven is the “realm in which God’s reign may be experienced.” - George Elden Ladd, The Gospel of the KingdomEven though we failed to give our Creator and King the allegiance that’s due Him, He didn’t give up on us. He promised His kingdom would come again.In Jesus, God’s kingdom has come and is coming.When Christ’s kingdom comes, it demands we pledge our hearts to Him and Him alone.Repentance isn’t just about a change in what we do but who we love.Jesus declares that in light of the kingdom, now is the time to decide who we will love and who you will follow because we can’t serve two Kings.The challenge of the Kingdom is not just to believe in God, but to pledge the allegiance of our entire heart to Him.The question of the kingdom to us personally: ‘is there some relationship, purpose or security in my life that when threatened or taken away causes me to question whether I can trust God?’As we gaze on the cross where the King of glory died in love for us, it dawns on us that He is the only King worthy of our whole lives.Why do we withhold part of our lives or heart from our Creator and King?I don’t trust God will do what I think is best.I’m ashamed of what God might show me if I opened my heart to Him.Christ is called the Light in the dark 1) because He was radiantly different.Christ was also called the Light 2) because He overpowered the dark.The one, true King has come. Step out from the shadows. His Light has dawned.