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'For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.' Romans 14:17 NKJV
This world says "desperate times, desperate mesures", and it seems we surely are in desperate times. Today, our generation have to witness how a nation that was built on protestant ethics and shows in its dollar "In God we Trust". Is so shaken, polarized, divided.. in fear.
I get into the social networks, and more often I see people either complaining to each other or showcasing to each other. Perhaps the fear of COVID-19 is making us more self-guarded, more ego-centric and less tolerant... all fruits of fear.
The good news is that as this world system uncovers it's unreliability, the wider the opportunity window (Luk.13:24-25) for us to truly reach out to the only one that really loves and cares for us (Jhn.3:16, 1Pe.5:7). Our save shelter.
'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord , “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”' Psalms 91:1-2
We are always welcome into God's kingdom, the only one that cannot be shaken by worldly governments and economics (Heb.12:25-27).
Now, what is exactly the kingdom of God. Jesus explained it like this:
'Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”' Luke 17:20-21
Meaning that the kingdom of God is at our reach - even for the Pharisees. It is all around us, even though we cannot see it. And it is three dimensional, as the physical one (Rom.14:17-18).
1) Righteousness: oxford dictionary define it like this,
- Behavior that is morally right or good, especially according to a religion
- The feeling that what you are doing is morally acceptable or fair.
We could expend a lot talking about this first dimension, but in summary, from my own experience, I can describe it like knowing for sure that your deeds are good in God's eyes and according to His law, therefore, the outcomes are assured by Him (IITim.3:16). It can be defined as our position with God. And righteousness produces peace (Isa.32:17), which is the second dimension.
Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. Proverbs 8:18 NKJV
2) Peace:
- A situation or a period of time in which there is no war or violence in a country or an area
- The state of being calm or quiet
- The state of living in friendship with somebody without arguing
It seems exactly what we are not having in our society right now, and it is getting even harder to achieve.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa9:6), He came to grant us righteousness with God (IICor.5:21), and in His presence, you feel peace, not like this world can provide with pills or other temporal stuff. It is something much more stronger, when you are in His presence, you'll feel like nothing in this world can shake you. I can explain it like a strong feeling of "All is OK" (Jhn.14:27). If we stand strong, well... there is no need for war.
'But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.' Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
3) Joy:
- A feeling of great happiness
- A person or thing that causes you to feel very happy
- Success or satisfaction
Joy is relational, happiness is circumstantial. Joy is the feeling that you have for having a relationship, having people meaningful in your life. Your spouse, your kids, your best friends. The Kingdom's joy is a fruit of having a relationship with the Holy Spirit. From my experience I can tell you that He is fun, He likes to make jokes, He is highly unconditional, caring and in summary, the best friend that we could ever have in this world (Jhn.16:7)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NKJV
If you still haven't experienced the Kingdom as of yet, I will recommend that you start getting righteousness and the rest will follow (Isa.32:17). Again, we could speak about this all day, but to make the long story short, in summary, at the beginning Jews people tried to get it through Moises' law but it didn't worked. So God sent His only son to resolve the issue once and for all (Rom.1-5).
Faith Triumphs in Trouble
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Let be Christ your desperate measure...
