Kingdom Thoughts

The “beatitudes” begin and end with the same phrase, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Does this mean, “for theirs is eternal life” or “they will live forever in heaven after they die?”

Or, is it something in addition? The Word tells us that we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Notice the tense- have been. In some sense we are already in the kingdom of God. We are citizens of the kingdom now. There is a great deal more to come, but even now, in the midst of all kinds of craziness, we are kingdom citizens.

Jesus also said, “Woe to you when all men think well of you.” Does being a kingdom citizen mean that those around us won’t always understand us? …agree with us? …respect us? Does it mean that we should be different? …and that some won’t think well of us?

There may be a price to be paid for living as a citizen of the kingdom. Is this the “cross” that he told us we have to carry?