Those Who are Great in the Kingdom of God

2004-11-08 21:31

Those who are great in the world are full of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. They are wise according to the flesh, mighty, and noble. The greatest of them is the ruler of the world. They are men of the world who have their portion in this life, and they are already judged.

It is written, "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16:11).

The Bible says about it, "With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes." (Psalms 17:14). And also, "Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches." (Psalms 73:12).

The Lord himself said, "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:19). All that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

It is written, "The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, 'I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.'" (Luke 4:5-6).

Therefore, those who belong to this world belong to the devil, but those who belong to that world belong to the Spirit. It is written, "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10).

Anyone who does not do what is right and does not love his brother does not belong to God, and does not have the Spirit, even though he has received forgiveness and love in Christ Jesus, the righteousness of God. It is written, "These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (Jude 1:19).

Those who are great in the kingdom of God are a royal priesthood--kings of righteosness and kings of peace, and not like kings of the world. It is written, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9). They let the mind of our Lord Jesus be in them. It is also written, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29).

Those who belong to Christ will become kings with Christ the king of righteousness and with him rule all the nations with an iron scepter of righteousness of God who is forgiveness and love. It is written, "On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'" (Romans 12:20).

Therefore, the kings of that world are different from the kings of this world. The kings of this world are arrogant and boastful, but the kings of that world are gentle and humble. In the churches which belong to this world, there are many kings of this world who love to be first.

It is written, "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us." (3 John 1:9). Also today, in the false churches which are called churches but belong to the world, the many abominations of desolation which love to be first are standing where they ought not.

At the end of all this, the Lawgiver and Judge will judge all of them on the day. Today, those who belong to that world should only take the Lord's yoke upon them and learn from him, who is gentle and humble, as the Lord said, "and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." (Mark 10:44). I thank the Lord who will finish this work and hand over all the glory to the Father on the day. "...did not consider equality with God something to be grasped." Amen, thank you, Lord.

Brother of the End, Kim Yun-gu.