Growing up in church, I must’ve heard at least nine dozen sermons on topics like forgiveness, devotion, and (of course) stewardship. Consequently, it was intriguing to recently embark on a six week study of the kingdom of God—a subject I’ve only heard talked about in passing comments or eloquent prayer.

One Sunday morning my pastor, Kevin, stated that the kingdom of God was Jesus’ primary message in Scripture. Which got me to thinking: how is it possible that the kingdom of God isn’t at the forefront of what the Church is teaching believers… and the world?

As the sermon began, I was keenly aware of the radical discussion that was beginning within our church body. I was aware that it would take root within our hearts and spread. I saw how ushering in the kingdom of God will revolutionize our lives. False rulers (i.e., you and me) must be usurped. And I’m pretty sure Jesus deserves a welcome home party… because we’ve been occupying His throne with bogus kings for too long. This process will be radical for us because there is no easy way. It’s radical because we are finally forsaking our self-pleasing patterns for the authority of God. This is a revolutionary undertaking because seeking first the kingdom of God will inevitably turn everything upside down for us... and we’ve never needed it more.

There’s one part of this that we can’t rush through: this is Jesus’ kingdom on His terms. Christ’s kingdom is going to require something of us. As Kevin said that fateful Sunday morning, “Jesus can’t be master of YOUR kingdom. Instead, we’ve been invited into His.”

The kingdom of God isn’t that moment of emotional surrender during the last praise song when the band is off in the third realm of Heaven and everyone else in the room has their hands raised frantically towards God; that same moment where your stomach turns over, your mind finds peace, and your heart is in union with the Lord— all of that is just a glimpse. That fleeting moment of deep, serene worship where you surrender everything… that’s just a flicker; it isn’t the whole kingdom come to Earth.

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According to Matthew, the kingdom of God is like finding a treasure buried in the ground and then selling every single solitary possession you own so that you can buy the land that contains that treasure. (See Matt 13:44 for yourself if you think I’m exaggerating). We’ve got to want it that bad—and then do something about it. It’ll include us laying down our rights. It’ll mean acknowledging Jesus as the only true King… of any kingdom. Everything and everyone else is counterfeit. Our ruling over relationships, decision-making, finances, and futures: that’s counterfeit. That’s us stripping Jesus of the Kingship that is rightfully His and His alone.

The kingdom is where the king reigns. Seems simple enough, but I have a biting suspicion that this journey won’t be as easy as it looks. May we choose to engage anyways, because “we’ll need our whole hearts for whatever is coming next” (John Eldredge).