The greatest Kingdom on earth is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. In our last writing we focused on Jesus as the greatest King. In this writing we will focus on His Kingdom. This kingdom is in this world but it is not of this world. Much misunderstanding exists about this kingdom. The kingdoms of this world are many. The Kingdom of Christ is one and it is represented by people who have been born again of the Holy Spirit. These people are motivated by the love of Jesus. Satan rules the world’s kingdoms and so you have wars, fighting, and hatred of various degrees. Even within a nation you have various degrees of hatred spawned by many evil ideologies. We see this in the USA today.

It is painful and distressful to follow the political infighting of the different parties. Some people who profess to be Christians are caught up in the various ideas purported by the political realm, and they are distressed for good reasons.

Now take a look at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Jesus said; “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” What Jesus taught was that we are to love our enemies, do good to them that hate us, pray for them that use us despitefully. Matthew 5, 6, and 7 teach us who the citizens of His kingdom are, and how they live and relate to others. It is all about loving God and others. This dedicated love for God and others is very different from the world’s kingdoms and is frustrating to them. All they know is how to rule by force. If someone does not obey, you judge them and condemn them in such a way that they must bend or be punished and maybe even by death. To be a citizen of God’s Kingdom is completely voluntary. Your work in the Kingdom is never forced. If you do not follow the rules of the Kingdom you will not long be a citizen of that Kingdom.

This Kingdom was issued into effect when the Holy Spirit came upon the early disciples at Pentecost. The power of Christ’s love moved into the hearts of all who believed and they went everywhere preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders tried hard to stop the forward movement of that new Kingdom, but it multiplied quickly. Today, the citizens of that Kingdom continue to preach that Gospel, and believers become followers of the teachings of Jesus. This Kingdom does not follow a certain religious, political, or national grouping but is in the heart that is opened to the Holy Spirit and motivated by the love of Jesus. They do deeds of kindness wherever they go. They carry the truth of Jesus in their heart. That truth always leads to sensible living, sensible in that it is always motivated by love for God and others. It is never harmful to others! This kingdom is known for its continual benevolence. Occasionally the media may take notice of some act of mercy and report it, but most media capitalize on stories of wickedness and crime.

This Kingdom is spread by missionary labors of individuals who move about preaching the Gospel of Jesus. Anyone who believes the story of Jesus will repent of his sinful selfish living and become another missionary of God’s mercy and grace.

In my lifetime I have watched both the advancement of evil and the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom. The great deterioration of morals as the lies of evolution became prominent in education is indeed distressing. But at the same time God was moving in the hearts of men and women to promote religious education and curriculums that many have used and discovered the truth of the Gospel. One by one people become citizens of Christ’s kingdom. There is no wholesale revival of righteousness but the kingdom of Christ continues to be an entity to be reckoned with.

The wholesale departure from truth and righteousness is prophesied in the New Testament. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5 to get a clear picture of what we are seeing in our world today. So prepare yourselves, folks. We have not seen the end yet. As men and women devote themselves to every kind of wickedness available it will get worse. But friends, open your heart to Jesus, read the Gospels and believe in Jesus as your only hope of salvation! Satan has devised all kinds of evil ways to intimidate and persecute believers. But God’s love is the power that carries us through to the end.

Isaac D. Martin

Manager, Rod & Staff Publishers, Withee