Two Kingdoms: Choose Carefully

To me, the most wonderful, life giving passage ever written is found in John 3.  Conversely, it becomes a regretful passage to others because of the condition of their heart. Here’s what it says, ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Two kingdoms are described in the above biblical passage. 

One is the Kingdom of God described by love, truth, and light…

• This love is at such a depth that God was willing to sacrifice His only Son to save and forgive any human being of their sin no matter the current condition of their life, where they live, color of their skin, ethnicity, physical appearance, or past sin.
• In essence, God is saying that you cannot out sin His grace and mercy. 
• This gift is freely given by God.  As with any gift, the only condition is that you must receive it.
• Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life and is not condemned.  This is the Greatest Gift ever…eternal life with no condemnation.
• Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

The other is the kingdom of the devil described by darkness and flesh:

• Whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
• This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
• Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
• These folks reject truth choosing to live in the flesh…what a trategy!

Galatians 5:19 shows the actions  of the lifestyle of those who reject God’s invitation and choose to live in “the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”  The devil is a liar who tempts and deceives then accuses.  He captivates people by “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” selling out God for fleshly lusts.  They trade eternity for a few years of fleshly living.

On the other hand, those who choose God’s Son as their Savior and Lord bear the following fruit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22&23). 

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13&14).

Two Kingdoms Offered: Choose Carefully.