1) The kingdom of God cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12: 22-29)
The Kingdom of God, as referred to in the Bible, sometimes not only refers to the incorruptible spiritual kingdom mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:50 and John 3:3-5. It is a place that us Christians hope to go to. It is also called the new heaven and new earth, which is being spoken of to the current heaven and earth. As recorded in Revelations 21:1-4, apostle John saw a vision on the island of Patmos: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’”
2) The kingdom of God is among you (Luke 17: 20-21)
God’s Kingdom refers to those belonging to Him. Though they are in the world, they do not belong to it, rather they belong to the kingdom of God (John 17:15, 18:36-37). Those who love, pursue and believe in the truth and follow Jesus are in God’s kingdom (John 17:20-26) – it is the Church that God has sent down as the key to the heavenly kingdom (Matthew 16:18-20).
As Paul said, “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17). If the church is able to obtain the joy from the Spirit, it can experience the joy in tasting heaven on earth. Like the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended and established the church, those who believed were in one place, sharing all they had; they sold their possessions and gave to each other what they needed. They continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. The Lord added to them daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:43-47, 4:32-37). Is this life not the heavenly joy that one experiences on earth? Therefore, we must follow the new commandment that Jesus had given us – to love one another (John 13:34-35). Only then can we have a joyful and peaceful life on earth like the life in heaven.
Conclusion
The Bible records, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). If we can keep the peace and joy of the kingdom of God in our hearts, we would be blessed. From the time that we received the Holy Spirit, we should be able to feel the peace and joy of the kingdom of God – because then God’s Spirit is within us, and God abides in us (1 John 3:24).
