The Story of a Kingdom

my daughter-in-law and grands

"And He said, 'How shall we picture the kingdom of God?...It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade." (Mark 4:26-32)

Once upon a time in a real place called earth, God made everything, and "God looked over everything He had made, and He saw that it was very good." (Genesis 1:31) The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth were united in perfect harmony.

One sad day, the man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, that God made did not listen to God and ate from the tree whose fruit He commanded them not to eat. God said, "The ground is cursed because of you. God banished them from the Garden of Eden." (Genesis 4:17, 23) The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth separated.

Many, many years later, "though [Jesus] was God...He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave; and was born a human being." (Philippians 2:6-7) Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 4:17) Jesus came to rescue the  fallen world separated from God. The kingdom of heaven stepped back into the kingdom of earth. Isn't that Good News!

Before Jesus returned to heaven, He said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere." (Acts 1:8) And to this day, the kingdom of heaven continues to spread across the kingdom of earth through God's witnesses.

And one day, maybe soon, we'll see "a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth will disappear, and the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven...All the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter...but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." (Revelation 21:1-2, 26-27)

On that day, the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth will be fully reunited.

And all who live in the united kingdom will live happily ever after. 

The End?

No, the Beginning!