Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: The Kingdom of God (03/12/09)
-
TITLE: The Kingdom in our Life | Previous Challenge Entry
By
03/19/09 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“Mom, where does Jesus live”? Jonathan’s bright, inquisitive eyes looked up at me. “Why, Jesus lives in your heart of course, why do you ask?” I answer whilst packing Jonathan’s school bag.
“The man on the radio said that Jesus’ house is the Church – how is it then that He is in my heart? I thought He was so big and strong – how can He fit into my heart?” Jonathans face was pulled into a frown of puzzlement.
We rushed off to school and work. I did not have an answer but thought about it for the rest of the day. Where does Jesus live? Where do we find Him?
I have always believed in God and His Almighty power, I go to church, pray, and attempt to live a Godly life every day. Still I cannot answer my son’s question, not for him and not for myself.
Is it because we as Christians tend to get so wrapped up in life and what we are busy with that we only remember the Lord on Sundays, just before bed time or when in trouble? Where does the Lord live when we are so busy – is He still part of us when we are busy with other things?
I believe that when you give your life to Christ, He fills you with His Spirit and He lives in you forever more – but how is it then that even though He is in us (read me) we still sin? We lie, steal, gossip, and do everything wrong – with no conscious – only to remember these terrible sins before bed or when we are in trouble. Then we ask forgiveness; and feel relieved to be ‘clean’, just to sin again tomorrow.
I remember a line from the move Pearl Harbor which sums this up for me. The actress (cannot recall her name – it has been a while) walks out of church. She is laughing at the fact that she loves Sundays as she is able to confess all her sins – but then the she said something that no Christian wants to admit, “She cannot wait to dirty up the slate again”.
That is what we as Christians are doing on a weekly, daily, hourly basis. We go to Church, confess and sin again. If Jesus is in our hearts – how is this possible?
In searching for the answer to my son’s question, I have realized that if we do not seek the Kingdom of God in our everyday living we will never be able to achieve what God has intended for us. Jesus lives in us yes, but just as people tend to neglect pets or plants that live in our homes, we tend to neglect the kingdom within us. Each one of us should give attention to the Kingdom of God that reigns in us – we cannot hope to thrive and grow in God’s love if we do not nurture, feed and love our Lord.
Just like with pets or plants, you cannot only give attention when it suits your busy schedule – they will die. A puppy is always glad to see his master, even if you treat him unkindly – Jesus is always happy to hear from His children – even when we ignore him and only remember Him when it suits us.
I will answer my son tonight I think, I will tell him that Jesus is in our Hearts because His Kingdom is in each and everyone of us. The Church is His home as well because when Christians come together it is as if hundreds of Kingdoms have come home.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.