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July 18

A Kingdom of Heaven Life

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

John 18: 36-38 (WEB, my emphasis)

This week Jesus has been speaking to me about the Kingdom of Heaven. Frankly, He is trying to get me to lift my eyes off myself and consider how I can live by Kingdom principles.

One of those principles is about truth. Pilate asked, as many philosophers before him and to the present ask, “What is truth?” Some might say that truth is reality. It is what I can see and/or touch. Truth is much more than that. It is more than a transient moment. Truth should be something that guides how I live.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

John 8:32 (WEB)

When I know something to be true, it can be part of a revelation that I begin to know for what reason I am here.

Jesus is a truth to me. Someone reading this may dismiss that statement because they feel I am unable to prove Jesus and His reason that He came to seek and save the lost and to testify to that truth. Jesus is as real to me as my husband. His impact on me has been life-changing and forever-changing. I was lost. I am no longer. I don’t have to prove anything more. You would have to dis-prove it to me! The truth of Jesus and that which He has shared with me has set me free.

A disciple of Jesus is more than a Believer. It is making a daily choice to live a Kingdom of Heaven life in this world. It is walking that choice out as a living testimony to what Jesus is doing today.

One of my favorite books is The Nun’s Story by Kathryn Hulme. (Audrey Hepburn starred in the movie.) It is the story of the life of a young girl during WWII, who made the decision to become a nun and the subsequent spiritual battle she wages to become the Bride of Christ that is demanded of her. She is told that it is her quest to become so perfect in the Living Rule (the life of service, humility, and chastity to which she has chosen) that a novice coming into the life could follow her and be following what is asked.

Jesus shows me His perfection and His standard is the only one I should follow as perfect. My walk is far from perfection. It is an imperfect testimony that (I pray) says to anyone looking at me: I walk beside my Savior, humble that He would invite me to do so and joyous that He has given me a Kingdom of Heaven life that can never be destroyed.