The topic of the Kingdom of God was the focus of a great message on my local church by my dear brother and fellow elder, Professor Eric Nichols. His message provoked and challenged me to come home and study further.

         I believe that when you preach or teach a message that provokes you to study, that is a successful sermon or teaching; so I want to first acknowledge and thank God for my brother Eric.

     When speaking about the kingdom, we are faced with having to explain what our relationship with this world is. They have a kingdom, the kingdom of darkness and we, as Christians, are a part of a different kingdom, the kingdom of God.[1]

         Are we already in position to rule and reign over this world? The Bible tells us that we are living in the days of the gentiles. Luke 21:23-24 paints a very painful picture.

“But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (KJV)

        The times of the gentiles indicates that these are not favorable times for God’s people; it indicates that this planet is run by the kingdom of darkness, not by the kingdom of God. How else can you explain this bathroom controversy? Do I really have to work hard in trying to convince you that this world is going crazier? Do you not get the sense that the good is being called bad and the bad is being called good?[2]

         We already know who the god of this world system is, Satan.[3] We also know his job description of killing, stealing and destruction.[4] Jesus clearly states that we are not of this world.[5] Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 not to be conform to the pattern of this world. Furthermore, James tells us that if we become friends of the world, we become enemies of God.[6]

        So are we to live our lives as if we are allergic to the world? Are we to totally disconnect from them and never reach out to anybody outside of our family in Christ?

To be continued…

[1] Colossians 1:13

[2] Isaiah 5:20

[3] 2 Corinthians 4:4

[4] John 10:10

[5] John 17:16

[6] James 4:4