When you think of the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God, what comes to mind? Do you think of the here and now, or life after death?

Author and Pastor Robby Gallaty says that when he asks people this very question, over 90% of them respond by saying they think of a future place they enter after death.

While it’s true that God’s Kingdom is in the next life, it’s not the whole story.

“90% of the time when Jesus talked about the Kingdom of Heaven, which is synonymous with the Kingdom of God, it was in the here and now. Jesus was talking about a present power, He was talking about a present reality to live in, He was talking about this abundant, victorious Christian life.”

Robby says the problem is we’ve put off our Christian life until after we die. He says we can see this evidenced even in our evangelistic appeals.

“’You don’t want to go to Hell. You need to put your faith in Jesus Christ so He can save you. While that’s true, that’s only half the Gospel. Jesus didn’t just save us from something, He saved us for something.”

Specifically, God saved us for the wonderful Christian life He calls us to.

“To live in Christ, to trust in Christ, and to abide in Christ. If you think about it, that’s what Jesus talked about all the time.”

In order to experience the Kingdom of God in our lives today, Robby says we have to throw off anything that could hold us back, including material possessions.

“All of us in America are wealthy when compared to the world’s standards. However, when you are rich and you have wealth, you will run the risk of having a hard time following the rule and the reign of the Kingdom of Heaven because as Jesus said, it’s hard to serve two masters. You’re going to love one and hate the other. If you let your riches and wealth control you today, you’re going to miss out on this abundant life today under the rule of reign of Jesus because of your desire to gain wealth and control.”


Robby Gallaty is the senior pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was radically saved out of a life of drug addiction on November 12, 2002. In 2008, he founded Replicate Ministries to educate, equip, and empower believers to make disciples who make disciples (replicate.org).

Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Featured Songs: There is a Cloud – Elevation Worship; Do It Again – Elevation Worship; Not Today – Hillsong United

 

The forgotten Jesus