His kingdom

John 14:6 KJV — Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Psalm 145:10-13 NKJV — All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The kingdom of God is something the Bible refers to often.

Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God frequently.

Matthew 13:24-25 NKJV — Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way…”

Matthew 13:45-46NKJV — “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13:47-50NKJV — “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Throughout scripture the Lord tells us that this world is not all there is.

He promises eternal life to those who will put their trust in Jesus Christ.

It is through the sacrifice of God’s Son we can gain citizenship in His kingdom.

And it’s a kingdom like no other.

How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.
Daniel 4:3 NKJV

For those who have already put their trust in Him and surrendered their lives before Christ we have both security and responsibility.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
II Peter 1:5‭-‬11 NKJV

Let us not weary of doing good, nor grow cold to the anticipation of entrance into the kingdom of God!

Rather, let us take heart knowing this world is not going to last forever, working diligently today with hope for the return of our Savior.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV — And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your wondrous works. Thank You that we have Your kingdom to look forward to and Your return to anticipate with joy. Thank You for Your love and promises. Lord, please help us to focus upon You today and be thankful for Your ways. Lord, goodness, honor, righteousness, integrity, truth all come from You. You are not fickle nor are Your ways crooked. Please continue to shine the light of truth into our hearts and minds, that we might be cleansed from sin and the effects of living in this sin filled world. Lord, please show us Your wisdom and let us not walk in our own ways. Help us to redeem the time, to be citizens of Your kingdom while we await the day of our entrance. Lord Jesus, please continue to teach us to be humble, compassionate, forgiving, and brave that we might reflect Your love and truth to all those who have yet to know You. Please help us to be diligent in sharing the truth with others. Lord Jesus, I praise You. I thank You, for Your salvation! May my life bring glory to Your name. Amen.

Heaven

Proverbs 30:4 NKJV — Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?

God the Father, the great Almighty, LORD, and the list of names continues, but what is His Son’s name?

Jesus.

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:11‭-‬13 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1‭-‬5 NKJV

Each of these verses is about Jesus.

He is the Word of God.

He is the Son of God.

He is salvation.

And He is in heaven.

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:9‭-‬11 NKJV

He shall return.

Matthew 25:13 NKJV — “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Heaven is where God the Father and the Son are.

It is a place beyond description.

Jesus Himself called it Paradise. Luke 23:43

John 14:3 NKJV — “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Jesus told His disciples that He had to return to heaven, that He is there preparing a place for those that are His.

It is the confident expectation of every born again follower of Christ Jesus to live eternally with Jesus in the place He has prepared.

There are many other scriptures which describe the wonder and grandeur of heaven.

Heaven is a real place.

Jesus is there and one day shall return.

No treasure on Earth can match the glory of heaven.

Nothing of this world can offer anything like life forever with Jesus.

No one knows the moment of His return from heaven, but everyone can guarantee He is coming.

Will you be ready?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that You are preparing a place in heaven for those who accept Your gift of salvation. Lord, please let those who have yet to know You be ready and willing to hear and accept Your truths. Lord, help each one of us to see how temporary this life on Earth is and to cling to what is eternal. Lord Jesus, nothing compares to You. Your love, compassion, mercy, grace, and so much more are beyond anything I can comprehend. Truly You are great and mighty and worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. May the whole Earth be filled with the glory of You. Amen.

…My Redeemer lives…

For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;
Job 19:25 NKJV

The truth if these words should be enough to carry any child of God through anything.

Job’s words are not spoken lightly.

Nor is he speaking from a place of comfort and security.

His heart is in anguish.

I call my servant, but he gives no answer; I beg him with my mouth. My breath is offensive to my wife, And I am repulsive to the children of my own body. Even young children despise me; I arise, and they speak against me. All my close friends abhor me, And those whom I love have turned against me.
Job 19:16‭-‬19 NKJV

These words are but a small measure of the depth of Job’s sorrow.

And who can blame him?

His children have all been killed on the same day.

Every part of his finances have been stripped away on that same day.

As if these things were not enough, his body is struck by painful boils from head to foot.

His wife is anything but comforting or understanding.

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Job 2:9 NKJV

Yes, anyone can see Job is suffering in the deepest of ways.

So, there is such testimony in his words of his anguish.

In the middle of him listing off all those who no longer love or respect him he speaks words of such truth.

Words every believer can cling to no matter the season or circumstance.

“For I know that my Redeemer lives,..” Job 19:25a

Our Redeemer is Jesus Christ.

He paid the price for sin, all sin, when He died on the cross.

And He rose again!

Truly, knowing our Redeemer lives, is the very deepest part of a Christian’s faith.

Without Jesus, there’s simply ritual.

It is a personal relationship daily with our Redeemer that breathes life everlasting into our soul.

…”And He shall stand at last on the earth;”
Job 19:25b NKJV

Let us never forget this.

Jesus is coming back.

He promised to return for His bride, the Church, and He will.

No matter what our daily activities, we must never weary of looking for the return of our Savior.

Truly, those who are called by His name can say:

For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;
Job 19:25 NKJV

In fact, let us say it often.

Let’s remind one another of this truth.

Let us hold fast to our integrity like Job did, that when the Master returns, He shall find us waiting for Him.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for these truths. Thank You for the teaching we can glean from Job. Thank You for shining Your truth through scripture to our hearts and minds. Thank You for always walking with us, through each circumstance. Lord, humbly, I request, that you make me like Job. A person of integrity, who holds fast to what is right, one who doesn’t waver in their faith no matter the cost. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Right now

Matt. 16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with His angles; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

The truth of Salvation is beautifully simple.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He died once and for all to save us from sin, and that He rose again and ascended into heaven.

That He is God incarnate, and sits in heaven awaiting the appointed time for His return.

For one day He will.

That is why living daily for Jesus, loving Him and obeying His commandments is vital.

No person knows when He will return.

Nor is there a better time to prepare for His return than right now.

Salvation can not be earned by good works, nor can it be bought.

Instead it is a free gift from Jesus Christ, Son of God.

That doesn’t mean that the gift wasn’t costly.

The truth of the matter is it cost more than any human could ever pay.

It cost more than any gift ever did before or ever will again.

It cost more than any one in humankind can truly comprehend.

Yet, what a blessed gift!

Salvation.

The only thing accepting this free gift will cost you is your will freely given over to Christ, Who understands far better than we what He created each one of us for.

He simply wants to have a relationship with each one of us and walk with us daily into the paths He and the Father set down for our feet before our birth.

He promises never to leave us nor forsake, but to supply all our need.

What gift can possibly compare?

A security in Jesus Christ lasts beyond death and the grave.

Eternity in heaven.

A path of service to God, while growing in daily relationship with Him.

Having peace in a world so full of turmoil, because of the precious daily walking surrender to Jesus.

For me, it’s such a wonderful and beautiful choice.

And I look forward to His return with anticipation and joy.

But I fully understand that this choice is repulsive to some.

Foolhardy and slow-witted do they view those who walk in faith with Jesus Christ.

Even as Christ walked among man and did nothing but good, He was despised and eventually executed by those He came to save.

So, I too can choose, as Jesus did, to love others, even those who despise me and my Lord Jesus.

But as for you, dear Reader, I truly pray, as I pen these lines, that your heart shall be soft to the voice of Salvation.

That if you have yet to know Jesus, you would take the opportunity to read His Words in the gospels.

The book of John is my favorite.

Although, each is so beautiful and vital.

Because some day, Jesus will return and each of us will stand before the throne to answer for how we lived on this Earth.

I hope you will be able to stand clean before God, washed in the blood of His Son.