As I was re-reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), I came to a passage the Lord set before me as an answer to my prayer. The text piercing my attention came at the end of Matthew Chapter 6 (Matthew 6:25-34), where Jesus offered the people counsel on dealing with life’s anxieties. His final directive was “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33 ESV). Then, at the close of His message, Jesus offered this warning, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21 ESV).
Jesus used only a few verses to make several important points. First, He assures all who live and breathe that God’s kingdom does exist. His kingdom is real. Second, Jesus encourages everyone to actively seek admission into His kingdom, but He notes not everyone will gain entrance. Third, He makes known the basis for entrance into the kingdom is God’s grace found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Learning and doing the will of the Father is counted as righteousness.
History reminds us that nations come and go. Based upon prevailing values at the time, each government creates a unique set of rules that ultimately define good and acceptable citizen behavior. In every case, the governing body establishes and administers a set of prevailing rules and laws based upon the perceived truths of that culture. Judged on the basis of law and order alone, governments today leave a lot to be desired. In God’s kingdom, He establishes the eternal rules for living. God’s Word, the Bible, unveils His rules for kingdom living. So, it is evident we have a choice to make. We decide if we want to follow God’s rules and embrace His kingdom order or not.
God’s kingdom never changes because it is eternal. The Kingdom of God is a government of law and order that this world has not yet fully realized. In its fullness, all who enter His kingdom will fully yield themselves to the unchanging rules and laws that Christ established from the beginning. Jesus Christ heads a government characterized by complete justice and fairness. Unlike worldly governments that spring up during the course of human history, His government is based on eternal Truth.
The Apostle Paul reminds the church that it was God the Father who “redeems us from the sin’s darkness and brings us into the light of His kingdom (Colossians 1:11-14). The Father made it possible to escape from Satan’s dominion. If we have experienced God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, we are now members of His Kingdom. In addition to that reality, the Scripture points to something yet to come in the kingdom’s future.
Jesus does not administer His kingdom based on politics or individual whims but by His perfect law. When His Kingdom is fully realized, He will rule and reign over it forever. Those who love God will reign with Christ forever. The prophet Isaiah declares a time in the future when Jesus will establish His throne in Jerusalem resulting in an administration that brings world peace (Isaiah 2:3-4).
Now is the time to actively seek the abundant life Jesus promises for His Kingdom. Now is the time to search the Bible for His Truth. Now is the time to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” The law and order Jesus promises can’t be found anywhere else. His law and order are for everyone.