Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God…
By F Santos • Jun 8th, 2008 • Category: kingdom
“A better country”
Just what do we mean “seek the kingdom of God”? How do we seek the kingdom of God? Do we go to some geographical location to seek and find the kingdom? Or was Christ talking in mere figure of speech?
In the so-called “Lord’s Prayer” Jesus actually taught His disciples how to pray. One of the things He taught was for us to ask in prayer: “Thy kingdom come.” (Mat.6:10)
What did Jesus mean “Thy kingdom come”? Is God’s kingdom coming to us or are we to go to the kingdom [or heaven as most people think we would]?
During the infamous “kangaroo trial” of Jesus, Jesus was brought to the Praetorium or hall of judgment. One of the false accusations leveled against Christ was that He was “perverting the nation” and forbidding giving tribute to Caesar (Luke 23:2-3). Jesus’ accusers were clearly trying to make Him look like a dangerous radical. Pilate asked Jesus:
Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Note this important fact here: Jesus was born to become a king. He Himself said He came to this world to become king (same verse).
Where and what is Christ’s kingdom?
Shortly before the virgin Mary conceived of Jesus, God sent an angel to her:
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Again, note the following important facts given here:
- God will give the throne of David to Jesus
- Jesus will reign over the house of Jacob forever
In other words, Christ will sit on the throne of David. One thing we can be sure of is that David’s throne exists somewhere on earth today, for God promised:
Jer 33:17 I, the LORD, promise that there will always be a descendant of David to be king of Israel.
Where David’s throne is today, is another subject that requires at least a full post.
But the point of it all, is that “the kingdom of God” is the kingdom that Christ will establish on earth when He returns. Christ will sit on the throne of David. Christ will become ruler over all the earth (Zech.14:9). He will rule as “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords” (Rev.19:16)!
This event, I have reason to believe, is going to happen in our very lifetime. This is surely going to be as historic as was His birth 2000 years ago. That is the kingdom that Christ said we must seek [Thayer: "strive after" or pursue] first!
This kingdom is at the very core of the gospel message that Jesus commanded His disciples to preach (Mark 16:15, Mat.24:14). If you read Hebrews 11 you will see that this same good news about the coming kingdom of God was preached as far back as the time of Abel [and hence of Adam and Eve].
Of these faithful men, Paul wrote:
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Perhaps the best example of these men seeking God’s kingdom was Abraham:
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham and all these faithful men had such a clear vision of God’s coming kingdom. They looked forward to it and were ready and able to persevere under the worst of trials and persecution:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 [Of whom the world was not worthy:] they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Seeking God’s kingdom first is beautifully and interestingly illustrated and expounded in the parable of the sower:
Luk 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Luk 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Christ explained the parable quite simply:
Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear [understand]; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation [trials} fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
The first group just simply understood the word but did not appreciate it enough to even believe and take some action. The second group appeciated what they received but gave such little value to it they were hardly willing to endure trials or temptations. The problem of the third group is that they were so distracted by daily concerns and pleasures, it crowded out God in their lives.
One thing that is clearly common to all these three groups is that God's kingdom is not first in their lives.
The fourth group is quite different from the rest:
Here we see that this group highly valued what they received, put their heart into it and held fast to it - and with enduring patience bore much fruit. That was what took the faithful men and women of Hebrews 11 to persevere under trials and persecutions.
Now regarding this “better country” or “city” that God’s faithful sought, John has this exciting details to tell us:
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
There it is, this “heavenly” city is going to come down to earth. God will “dwell with men”. Incredible you might say - but that is plainly what the Bible says! Now read this:
Amidst the gloom and uncertainty that greets us daily via the media, God’s coming kingdom is clearly the only hope left for mankind. Unfortunately, this simple truth is largely ignored or misunderstood. But God’s kingdom is going to come, whether we like it or not - and whether we realize it or not. This is no Pollyanna hope. God promised it — He will do it! Our only other alternative is the helplessness and hopelessness that had been thoroughly etched - and continues to be etched - in the history of mankind. There’s no other choice that I can think of.
That is the reason why God’s kingdom is foremost in Christ’s mind. That is the reason why we must seek it first - that is, put it on top of our priority.
[Read also the exciting article series What is the Purpose of Life?].
F Santos is a Bible researcher and freelance web designer/developer currently living in Memphis, TN
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