The large living room window is constantly smudged and slathered up by Miki, our golden retriever. When we are gone from the house, Miki stands sentinel anticipating our return. When my wife pulls her car
into the driveway, I may not hear anything, but Miki’s ears perk up and she runs to the window, poking her nose through the blinds for a glimpse of her “master’s” return. When the garage door starts to open, she gets even more excited. She starts to whine and bounds to the garage door with a joyful greeting.
In the mornings, after her outdoor romp, she runs to the bedroom door and whines until my wife finally opens the door and lets Miki in. Miki’s joy and compelling desire is to be with her “masters”.
Before Jesus died on the cross, arose from the grave, and ascended back to heaven, he told his disciples that he would return. He was going away to prepare a place for them. “Let not your heart be troubled,” he said, “I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-6). Like Miki, who joyfully anticipates her masters’ return, we await our Lord’s return from heaven.
Until the day our Master returns, Jesus told us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come” (Matthew 6:9-10). But what does it mean for His Kingdom to come? Consider the following aspects of the kingdom of God.
First – WHAT KIND OF KINGDOM IS IT? The kingdom of God is first and foremost a spiritual kingdom. When Jesus walked the earth most of the Jewish people thought the kingdom he was referring to was an earthly kingdom. They were weary of the burdens and abuse of Rome’s rigid rule. Jesus’ followers thought that Christ would be the new reigning monarch who would overthrow the oppressor. But Jesus explained that the Kingdom of God would be more than a physical, earthly government. It would be a realm that could not be comprehended with man’s natural finite faculties. (Read John 3.)
When Jesus was asked when the Kingdom of God was coming, he answered, “The Kingdom of God does not come that you can watch for it. Nor shall they say, ‘See here!’ For the Kingdom of God is within you!” (Luke 17:20-21) When Jesus taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom come”, He was not only thinking of the Messianic kingdom, but that, through prayer, one could invite Christ to establish His kingdom and rule in the hearts of men. We request that God be sovereign over our life. Jesus told Nicodemus that one could not even see the Kingdom of God unless they were “born again” from above by the Holy Spirit. (Read John 3.)
Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is also invisible to the eye of man. It is like “leaven” or yeast that a baker puts in a batch of dough. The “leaven” works from the inside out transforming the whole batch. So God’s Kingdom works in and through each believer affecting the hearts of people and the society around them.
Second – WHO IS THE KING OF THIS KINGDOM? God’s throne is above the heavens. (Read Isaiah 6:1-6 and Revelation 22:1-5.) Jesus is “the stone that the builders rejected”. (Read I Peter 2:6 and Isaiah 28:16.) The government shall rest on His shoulders. (Read Isaiah 9:6-7.) Every knee shall someday bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. (Read Philippians 2:7-10.) We now enthrone Him through praise, prayer, and obedience. Each morning we should come before God Almighty and Christ our King and humbly present ourselves as loyal subjects of our Sovereign Lord, ready and eager to be of service to Him.
Third – WE ARE KNIGHT’S IN HIS KINGDOM! We guard, advance, and enforce His Kingdom with spiritual weapons. (Read Ephesians 6:10-18 and Psalm 149.) We must put on the armor of light. (Read Romans 13:12 and II Corinthians 6:7.) As children of the King (John 1:12) we are destined to rule and reign with Christ in His coming Kingdom. (Read Psalm 84:10.) Knights of old lived in the castle with the king. The king lives in the hearts of his children and subjects. But one day our King shall come to take us to our heavenly city. (Read Revelation 19 – 22.)
Fourth – TO KNOW THE KING IS OUR JOY! Miki, our golden retriever, is happy and satisfied when she is with her “masters”. To serve and to be a friend and companion is her delight. But Miki’s relationship with her master is limited in this life. This is not so with our relationship with our King. The Son of God took upon him human flesh, died on the cross for our sins, and arose from the grave so that you and I can have intimate fellowship with Him now and forevermore. That was Paul’s goal and joy. (Read Philippians 3:10.)
Do you pray “Thy Kingdom come”? Do you pray for Him to rule and reign over your heart and life? Do you pray for the King to come again to reign on earth?
King Jesus invites you. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). THAT’S REAL JOY!