As Christians, it is our privilege, commitment and responsibility to follow Jesus as our Lord and Christ. Thus, we want to commit our ways to the teachings of Christ. Because of this, these words have special significance for us: “Repent for the kingdom is heaven is near.” (Matt. 4:17) Why should this statement have special significance? Because this phrase is Matthew’s way of summarizing the gospel that Jesus taught. As followers of Christ, the gospel of Christ is of the highest importance.
But what is the kingdom of heaven? Is it some far off place where everyone sits playing harps all day with wings on their backs? I don’t think so. For Jesus said it is near. And the rest of Jesus’ teachings don’t say much about one’s musical talent, either.
At times, Jesus calls this realm something different than “the kingdom of heaven” or the “Kingdom of God” (Mark 10: 17-23. Notice the different names for the same idea!) There are many titles that he uses for the kingdom: eternal life, salvation, and the “age to come.” But perhaps the best way to understand the kingdom is by looking at its opposite, the world, or “this age.”
We all know about the world. It is society, civilization as we know it. This world is how we make our living and remain comfortable. This world consists of our friends, our family, and our co-workers. And this world gives us a structure to live our lives by. Frankly, although there are many things we dislike about this world, it is what we are comfortable surrounding ourselves with--the TV, music, movies and newspapers.
Jesus’ aim is to destroy the structure of this world and replace it with a new world, namely, the kingdom of God. In fact, when he returns, he will destroy the governments and other structures completely and establish his own rule on the ruins of the present civilization (Daniel 2:44). When he came 2000 years ago, his goal was the same (Luke 12: 49-53) But at that time he was working secretly and quietly with one man at a time to bring them into alignment with his kingdom (Luke 19:10)
What did he say his New Kingdom would be like? Very different from this world.
For example,
-In this world, you are convicted and thrown into prison for murdering someone. In the nest, even if you call someone “stupid” you’re thrown into hell (Matt. 5: 21-22).
-In this world, we give when it is convenient. In the next, we must give whenever someone asks us (Matt. 5:42).
-In this world, we prepare for our retirement and for potential calamities with insurance. In the next, we never worry about tomorrow but entrust God with our security (Matt. 6: 25-34).
-In this world, we fill our homes with treasures like TVs, VCRs, stereo systems, computers, nice furniture, mini-blinds, and piles and piles of sentimental trinkets. In the next, we build up treasures in heaven by selling what we have and giving to the poor (Luke 12: 33-34).
-In this world, we help someone out if it is not going out of our way--e.g. picking up a hitchhiker if he is going our direction. In the next, we help whoever is in need no matter what our schedule or direction (Luke 10: 25-37).
What a wonderful world to look forward to! There will be few needs because everyone will be selling, giving, helping, and trusting in God.
But Jesus wasn’t just giving a polite look t what is to come. To go into this wonderful kingdom, we need to do something. “Repent,” Jesus says (Luke 13: 1-5)
What is repenting? Biblically it is not feeling sorry or apologetic about what wrong we have done. Nor is it confessing your sins, although it might include that. Simply put, it is stopping whatever sin you are doing and then doing what is right before God. In the Old Testament, it is often called, “turning to the Lord.” It isn’t the change of attitude so much as the change of action.
So what is Jesus calling us to do? He wants us to change, to repent from our evil deeds. Which evil deeds are those? The deeds of this world! God wants us not to be concerned about tomorrow, concerned about what is “wise” in the eyes of those that look at one life alone (Matt. 11:25). Instead, we are to turn to the ways of the coming kingdom. We are to give to whoever asks, sell our possessions and give to the poor, seek the lower position to become slave to all (Luke 22: 26-27), we are to entrust everything to God and depend on him for our future. In essence, We are to live in this age as if we are in the age to come.
“Whoa,” you say. “This isn’t just a change in action. It is a whole new way of thinking!” That’s right! When Jesus was talking about being “born again,” he wasn’t just speaking of a mystical experience, or praying some prayer (John 3: 5-8). No, he was saying that to enter the kingdom you must turn your fundamental thoughts up side down.
Instead of thinking about yourself first, we think of others first. Instead of being concerned with what is wise, you focus on what is God’s will.
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