The
scripture is meant to be a tool to equip you to becoming just as He desires- the
exact image of His dear son. This is the essence of seeing the scriptures in
the light of what it truly means. The Lord knows the truth is hidden is why He
says “Ye shall know the truth”. It unfolds. There are things yet unknown, even
though He is the truth Himself.
Let’s look into
another truth this week that will take us deeper in fellowship with Him. I have
heard people say the kingdom of God is quite difficult to make and some feel
only God knows those that serve Him. To make it to the kingdom then requires
hardened effort of a man. This means it’s a pretty difficult adventure. And I must
tell you, have seen this result into zeal without knowledge. In order to
support this view, the scripture is made reference to. Let’s look into that
scripture:
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force”
Matt11vs12.
John was sent
out as the forerunner of Jesus. His mission was to prepare the heart of the
hardened Jews for the coming of the Kingdom. One thing you must understand here
is that the Kingdom hadn’t come in the time of John, not even during the
earthly ministry of Jesus. What John did is to prepare people for the kingdom
and the first message of Jesus is to tell the people to turn from sin, and turn
to God, for the kingdom of heaven is NEAR (Matt 4vs17). The kingdom is near, hadn’t
come!
The message of
John was a hard one that sort to get the people baptized as a practical
representation of their intention to move towards the kingdom. The baptism does
not translate to making the kingdom. Baptism is an earthly/physical
representation of a spiritual reality. When the people heard the message of
John, they responded massively, the Pharisees and Sadducees were not left out. It’s
a crowding.
“But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming
to be baptized, he denounced them” Matt3vs7.
John was a
radical preacher, despite his hard words they didn’t refuse to come and be
baptized in order to get the kingdom. He then made them to understand there is
someone coming after him.
Jesus used this
scripture to describe how the people responded to the ministry of John. Multitudes
crowding towards the kingdom of heaven. Violence that the kingdom suffered
meant the pace at which the people crowded towards the path to the
kingdom-Christ. John was the path, he introduced the Kingdom. Violence suggests
physical force, effort. That doesn’t work now, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure” Phil2vs13. The kingdom isn’t any way about your effort.
Let’s look at
the other side of it. The scripture says from the days of John the Baptist
until now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence…” The word “Until” could be
used as a conjunction or preposition which means up to a time or event, but not
afterward. It could also mean up to time
or before. The scripture then becomes clearer that whatever Jesus meant by the
violence ended with the time of John. And after John, there was no need to
crowd (using violence) because there is now direct access. No more queue, the
door is wide opened, He is gone to prepare those room, wide enough to accommodate
the whole world. No such thing as force. It’s been paid for. He is the door.
Friend, the
Kingdom isn’t just about a house up there. It’s the “will of God”. When the
kingdom of God comes in a place, it means the will of God is established in
such place. It starts here on earth, it’s a spiritual reality. You didn’t do
anything to earn the kingdom in the first place, so why think you will strife
to have it kept? The only route is just to believe in Him.
The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy
in the Holy ghost” Rom14v17. Does that suggest strife? Don’t hurt yourself
trying to please God. He wants you to do it through one route- Believe! That’s the
violence.
I will be
writing on the “righteousness” part of it next week.
As you go this
week, can you just do more of submitting to that inner small still voice? It answers
more to your situations.
Be
Innovated.
Olufemi
Ibitoye
@toyeolufemi
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