Kingdom of God, a New Residence
When a person gives their life to Jesus and receive His Spirit, they have transferred their lives from this natural world which ends in death into the world of the spirit which leads to life. It is referred in the Bible as being transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the light of Yahweh’s Kingdom. As Christians we become sojourners on earth with no permanent residence. Really, we become aliens living in a strange world. We are called to live worthy of our new life in Christ fulfilling His desire not our flesh. Thus, heaven is the City of the chosen of Yahweh [1 Peter 2:9-12].
The Lord’s choice rests in a person’s faith in Jesus. Jesus is Yahweh’s only son. He obeyed His father in His death and resurrection providing a way for people to be forgiven of their sins and reconciled to a holy God. Jesus is the only way for a sinner to enter the eternal presence of Yahweh. It is one’s faith in the promises of Yahweh which opens the door of heaven. Abraham in faith realized the promise of a city built by Yahweh [Hebrews 11:8-10].
Jesus Himself promised His disciples that upon His return to heaven, that He would be preparing a place for them. This was an eternal place to dwell with Jesus. So, each born-again believer who through faith has been chosen by Yahweh is assured a place of rest with Jesus [John 14:1-4].
As born-again believers this city of faith for which we have been chosen has been prepared by Jesus as an inheritance for which we wait to receive. It will become our dwelling place for eternity. We will receive it at the consummation of this age in which we find ourselves [Ephesians 2:4-7].
Each born-again believer enjoys the anticipatory hope of this city of God which has been promised. There is a great desire to enter a place of peaceful bliss created by God. As strangers in this world we look anxiously toward the place where we will dwell with Jesus eternally [Hebrews 11:13-16].
As heirs to the Kingdom of God, born-again believers are aliens in this world. This is neither our home nor our resting place. Since our life belongs to the King of the Kingdom, then each day we live, all we do, all we say, is for the Kingdom and the glory of the King.
For the Kingdom
Hugh Folds
Interim Pastor
Romans 14:17
