Sep 12 2008
The Kingdom of Heaven is near
Finding answers to your questions is like finding a pearl in a deep, vast ocean. Today I found one of those biggest pearls I will ever set my eyes on.
We were reading Bible verses from the Sabbath School lesson and one of them was Matthew 10:7 which says, “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near,’ NIV.” I interpreted it like “Jesus is coming near.” I didn’t realize that it was Jesus himself who was saying it and He couldn’t be talking about His second advent. Then Marty, the Sabbath School teacher read it in her Bible in a different version which, And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ in New King James Version.
Hearing this it sounded like it was referring to a proximity instead of time but my curiosity insisted that I should ask this: “This message has been preached more than 2000 years ago and why it is still being preached today?” Obviously I was not alone with this interpretation because another member of the group seconded it and shared what her mom said, “This Jesus of yours said he’s coming ever since I was a child. Now I’m dying and he hasn’t come.”
Sounds familiar isn’t it?
This question actually wasn’t originally thought by me. I heard it from preachers’ tales a long time ago and I just felt like asking it to get some fresh, new ideas.
Amazingly, one woman, Milcah spoke with heavenly wisdom when she answered our question. She elucidated the verse very simply but straight to the point. She said that the kingdom referred to here is the spiritual kingdom that is just within our reach.
“This kingdom is in you!”
Amen!
