The Daily Word of Righteousness

Orientation to the Kingdom of God, continued

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

The death-oriented Christian is apt to view the problems that come his way as being unrelated troubles that we all encounter while we are on the earth. As a result, he learns little from them and tends to blame people around him or Satan for his discomfort.

The Kingdom-oriented Christian views each problem as a lesson in righteousness that the Spirit of God has brought to him for his strengthening in the Kingdom of God. The death-oriented Christian is spiritually "high" and then spiritually "low" as he waits for death to remove him from the present world.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament Scriptures are directed toward the Kingdom-oriented Christian. The Prophets spoke plainly of the day when Christ comes and establishes righteousness throughout the earth. The Prophets had nothing to say about the elect dying and going to Heaven.

Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. (Psalms 96:10)

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it. (Isaiah 45:8)

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. (Isaiah 61:11)

Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:35)

Notice the emphasis in the preceding passages on the world, the nations, the earth. There are many similar passages in the Old Testament. They stress the coming of the rule of God into the earth.

Christ and the Apostles of the New Testament also emphasized the coming of the rule of God into the earth.

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25)

Because the creature [creation] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

Revelation 11:15 presents the nature of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not the making of all new things, it is the making of all things new. God will take the kingdoms that are, including our own personality, and make them new by filling them with Christ.

God is not teaching us righteousness and meekness so we can live in Heaven but on the earth. It is a much better inheritance Hallelujah!

To be continued.