The Kingdom of Heaven

UV 3689/10000 The Kingdom of Heaven From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “ Repent (change your inner self- your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4 v 17 Jesus, the Prince of Heaven, the Son of God should know where the kingdom of heaven is located. He said that it was not far but it was “at hand.” Jesus brought access to heaven to us here on earth. We believed it was far away in both time and geography but Jesus said, “ it is nearby, so close it is in our hearts.” When we believe the word of Jesus and receive Him as the Word of God sent to us, heaven is in us. From the position of being near us, it is IN us. Hence, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within us and amongst us.” It meant the rule of God is demonstrated, proven, manifested in our inner life, our hidden thoughts and emotions and motives as well as in our relationship with our fellow beings, fellow humans. Hence, the kingdom of heaven and of God does not commence in our after life, after our physical deaths but here and now. We die spiritually to our former lives and live as new creations of God. The simple word, “repent” has so many implications-a turning away from our old ways, our sins, our former self and turning towards God, heaven, Jesus. It implies we do not produce evil fruit( bad thoughts, words, actions)n in keeping with repentance and good fruit ( good thoughts, words, actions) in keeping with salvation. We need to prove to others that we are truly saved in Christ. The things we used to do we no longer do. The positive things we never used to do, we now do. We no longer live to please ourselves but to serve God, to fulfill His purpose for our lives. Since it is His purpose that we are now pursuing, we are given the power, the strength, the anointing, the grace, the empowerment and the enablement. It is no longer I living my life but Christ-in-me who is living. I now have access on a continual basis to His love, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whenever there are distractions, detours, disturbances that affect love, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, the very definition of heavenly life, the life of spiritual abundance that Jesus promised His followers, it is an interruption of heaven. Living in the kingdom of God is essential prerequisite for being in the kingdom of heaven for we cannot have a heavenly experience without obeying God, specifically, the Word of God.