“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
“As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.” Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:17-27
John the Baptist said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew 3:2 “The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.” Luke 3:10-14 Jesus travelled about preaching this same message about His coming kingdom. “When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst (meaning within).” Luke 17:20-21
Therefore, we come to be in the kingdom (and the kingdom within us) once we are spiritually reborn (born again). This is not through religious practice as the local church teaches, but instead it is through a full surrender of one’s life in this world to be traded for a life of servitude for the Lord and His kingdom. Our hearts must reveal truthfully unto God that we both can and will part with everything in this world. Our plans, dreams, material possessions, earthly desires, any riches we may gain, and even leave our own families if that is what is required by the Lord. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46
Hence, we must understand that with Christ, there is no comprise. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 Thus, this MUST be first and foremost, above everything in this world. Far too many claim to be in Christ, but in the end, because of their compromised hearts, are not and will never be a part of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus will plainly tell them to depart from Him because he never knew them. To know Christ is to have a personal relationship with Him. That is not gained by praying some prayer of commitment, reading ones bible, going to church, etc. It is only gained when we wholeheartedly surrender our lives to follow Jesus forevermore. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
“As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.” Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:17-27
John the Baptist said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew 3:2 “The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.” Luke 3:10-14 Jesus travelled about preaching this same message about His coming kingdom. “When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst (meaning within).” Luke 17:20-21
Therefore, we come to be in the kingdom (and the kingdom within us) once we are spiritually reborn (born again). This is not through religious practice as the local church teaches, but instead it is through a full surrender of one’s life in this world to be traded for a life of servitude for the Lord and His kingdom. Our hearts must reveal truthfully unto God that we both can and will part with everything in this world. Our plans, dreams, material possessions, earthly desires, any riches we may gain, and even leave our own families if that is what is required by the Lord. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46
Hence, we must understand that with Christ, there is no comprise. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 Thus, this MUST be first and foremost, above everything in this world. Far too many claim to be in Christ, but in the end, because of their compromised hearts, are not and will never be a part of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus will plainly tell them to depart from Him because he never knew them. To know Christ is to have a personal relationship with Him. That is not gained by praying some prayer of commitment, reading ones bible, going to church, etc. It is only gained when we wholeheartedly surrender our lives to follow Jesus forevermore. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
