beliver

The Kingdom is small compared to the many souls who are without Christ. Only those who have put their faith and trust in Christ will enter the kingdom of God. The bible says narrow is the way to heaven, broad is the way to destruction and many there be who will go there at. The kingdom grows by witness and telling others about the need of a Savior. The banquet is large and will have many people from different nationalities there only those who have put their faith in Christ will be there, they will come from many denominations also. I am the way the truth and the life no man comes unto the father except by me.

It sums up why Jesus came to earth, to die for the sins of mankind. It tells us that God is love and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. When we receive Christ as Savior we pass from death, separation from God, to life eternal, when we die we will be with the Lord in heaven. Those who have the son has life, those who do not have the Son of God has not life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

The nature of the kingdom of God is spiritual not physical. When we are born again things change we no longer walk according to the world's standards, but we walk as Jesus walked. We are different from the world and their beliefs. Our purpose know is to serve a new master, not the devil. We have a new direction and a new life in Christ. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature old things are passed away, behold all things become new. I do not think Nicodemus really understood the Lord, for he spoke of going back into his mother's womb. He did not understand that there has to be a spiritual change in a person. We change from carnal to spirtual when we are born again. We will never be perfect in this physical body, but we strive to more like the Master each day. Our goal is to please Him and tell others about their need of salvation. Jesus is not willing that any perish but that all should come to repentance.

It is to be sought after as you would search for hidden treasure. It is to be valued above rubies and diamonds it is worth giving our all. We value it so little because we seek after other things and we are too wrapped up in this world. Our first priority is seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteouness. As we live our lives for the Lord, those around us will see the value of seeking God's kingdom. When they see how we handle lifes trials they can see there is value in what we are living and striving to please.

Both of these are relying on something else other then Jesus blood and righteousness. There is only one religion and that is Jesus and His shed blood for the sins of the world. Jesus knew the heart of this rich young ruler and He wanted to him to make a choice riches or Jesus. Just as Christ gives everyone a choice to receive Him or reject Him. It is a privilege to serve the Lord and be part of His Kingdom and the promise of eternal life. The ruler rejected the offer because he had great riches and was not willing to give up his riches. Riches blind the eyes of people and keep us was doing the work of the Lord. God will have no other god before Him.

I believe Christ was testing this young man, I know God knows his heart, but I think he wanted to teach him a lesson about riches. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom. Money is not evil, it is the love of it that corrupts. God will not be second to anyone, we must decide are we going to serve the world or God. Wealthy people can be a help to the work of the Lord, but if we put that before Him, He will have no other god's before Him, including money. We need to ask ourselves daily why do I serve the Lord, is it for Him Kingdom or our own ego. The only way to be saved is by faith in Jesus and him alone, we cannot buy our way to heaven or eternal life. Riches corrupt if not used for the work of the kingdom. We cannot hold fast to riches, they can be gone in an instant, but what is done for Christ will last.