"The Kingdom Of God Is Within You"
Christ, in replying to the Pharisees' misunderstanding of the nature of the kingdom, said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, lo, here! or, there! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)
That the nature of the kingdom is misunderstood by the denominations is obvious. That many even within the kingdom have no clear conception as to what it is all about (verily, they think it is "eating and drinking"), is likewise abundantly obvious. But we can further narrow the view and find "faithful" members of "faithful" churches who do not seem to have the foggiest notion of what it means to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Col. 3:16), and who seem totally unaware of the import of Hebrews 8:10: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and on their heart also will I write them: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people."
The Savior expressed it in these words to the woman at the well: "...whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life." (John 4:14) Paul's words in Eph. 6:6 also have a bearing upon the subject as he urged Christians to serve their employers "not... as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart..."
It is admitted that not all of these passages are dealing with the same subject in their context. But I want us to notice that whatever subject is discussed, the innermost feelings and motives of man are considered. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."
How sorely needed is the disposition of members of the church to have the kingdom of God within them, and to have God's commandments in their hearts. How superficial and shallow is the kindgom in the lives of so many.
Consider the person who absents himself from the assembling together of the saints to go fishing, to entertain company, or to voluntarily work for a few more dollars. Is the kingdom of God really within that person? Does the word of Christ dwell so richly within him that his every thought and deed is regulated by the will of the one who gave His own life for us? Consider that person whose income is over $100 a week, and who, with average financial responsibilities, "manages" to give the Lord around $5 of his prosperity. Is this the joyful expression of that well of water springing up within him unto eternal life? Is this the result of the fervent desire within that person to do the will of God from the heart? You KNOW it isn't.
It is hard to express the thought that came to me this very day as I contemplated what it would be like if all the members of the kingdom really and truly had the kingdom of God within them.
Just think of the tremendous saving of time, energy, and effort could then be put to use towards those who have not the gospel, and who have absolutely no hope of everlasting life!
Consider it seriously, brothers and sisters. Does the word of Christ dwell richly in your hearts? Is the kingdom of God really with you? Do you love the Lord, or are you creating more work for others to do? Are you helping to solve problems, or are you a part of the problem?
Are you working to save others, or are you helping them to be lost because time has to be taken from teaching them in order to keep you on the track? Consider it well, for your eternity depends on it.