Kingdom Attitude
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John 3:31-36
31. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all. 32. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony; 33. he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit; 35. the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
50. I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51. Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. 54. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55. "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" 56. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
In the verses preceding those from John, John the Baptist has just expressed his delight and complete joy at the arrival of “the bridegroom.” He is satisfied to his core that he is in the role of “best man,” because he understands that Jesus is the One who has been promised! He recognizes Jesus as the God/man sent to earth to save us all! He is overcome with joy, and I imagine, relief! Because now He has tangible proof that He was right!
1 Corinthians goes into even greater detail on the subject. Jesus is God. Belief in Him equals eternal life. And not an eternal life at some point in the future—no, from the instant we believe, we possess it! Isn’t that remarkable? Right now, as a believer in the Risen Lord, I am assured that even if my body dies and lays to rest in the grave for a thousand years, that’s not the end of the story! I will receive a new, perfectly wonderful and glorious, heavenly body at the end of time! And even if the second coming occurs today, while I’m still alive, I’ll be transformed! And so will you!
Death is not the end! But sin is! Not that we are expected to be perfect, but that we recognize our imperfection. Not that we won’t make mistakes and turn our backs on the Savior, but that we beg forgiveness when we do err—actually even in advance: we know we will sin, and we beg God to forgive us in our imperfect human form!
So what’s the point? Believe on him! Look forward to eternity! Live today with that goal and promise in mind! I need to be the best person I can be—the most kind, gentle, loving, patient, generous and honest human being I am able to be. That’s not easy! I can be pretty prickly! Just ask my family! But I commit today to make this the beginning of a new attitude: a kingdom attitude! Will it last? I hope so! But I also am filled up with gratitude, awe and thanksgiving, because I know I am already forgiven, even if it doesn’t!
I hope you spend today living with a “kingdom attitude”—striving for peace, love, justice, and eternal life. And that you share the truth and joy of Jesus Christ with everyone you meet.
Mary
