November 23, 2004

THE PREACHER OF THE KINGDOM

"I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent" (Luke 4:43, NKJV).

The theme of the kingdom of God was Christ's magnificent obsession. According to the record of the four Gospels, Jesus spoke about the "kingdom of God" or the "kingdom of heaven" eighty-nine times. Though He never tried to define the kingdom of God, He preached it, taught it, demonstrated it, and lived it. He admonished his followers to accept the kingdom, preach the kingdom, live for the kingdom, pray for the kingdom to come, and seek first the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is inseparably linked to the life of the believer. It is both present and future. Jesus came in His first advent to establish the kingdom of grace. It is the spiritual kingdom that "cometh not with observation" (Luke 17:20), but is a vital, daily reality within the hearts of God's redeemed people. In the kingdom of grace, Christ is king here and now. The kingdom of God is also future. This is the ultimate phase of God's kingdom. The kingdom of glory is a theme that dominates Christ's kingdom theology. This will be ushered in when "the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him" (Matthew 25:31). This is the all-consuming hope of the church.

Therefore, the kingdom of God spans the present reign of grace with Christ as king as well as the future reign of glory with Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. No wonder this kingdom of God was the consuming passion of the preacher of the kingdom. Our calling is also to preach the good news of the kingdom of God that is soon to be ushered in.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I am a citizen of the kingdom of grace; prepare me for the kingdom of glory. Amen.