Many people have a false assumption that the ultimate goal of Christianity is to come to a relationship with Jesus Christ so that when you die you can go to heaven. Make no mistake about it: it will be a glorious day, moment, and eternity when we finally see Jesus in heaven! I love the promise of Romans 8:18: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Far more often, however, Jesus focuses not on escaping this world so one day we go up in the clouds of heaven, but on bringing heaven down to earth.

The central message that Jesus came to announce was that the Kingdom of Heaven is available to all - now. It had always been available prior to Jesus, but His arrival, coming down from heaven to earth, brought new accessibility. The light coming into the darkness brought this reality to life like never before seen.

While God's kingdom is at hand now, there are other kingdoms at work now as well. This is ultimately why we are still struggling to be free. There is still a spiritual battle raging as we speak. Just as there is a "now" aspect to God's kingdom, there is also a "not yet" aspect to fully seeing God's restored kingdom. Ultimately, that is why Jesus urges us to pray these words in the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,