OUR FATHER WHOSE KINGDOM IS IN OPPOSITION TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD

The Lord Jesus, in Matthew chapter 10 verses 34 - 39, continues delving into the heavy spiritual principles that are at work when a person seeks to participate in the kingdom of God.

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;      36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 

37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

The conditions that will surround a person when they commit themselves to the kingdom of God include these listed here;

• No peace while on the earth but battle
• Division between fathers and sons
• Division between mothers and daughters
• Division between inlaws
• Opposition from ones' own household

The Lord explained to His followers that the pursuit of the kingdom of God requires that the kings of the kingdom of God be their highest priority.

Membership in the kingdom of God requires that the love of parents and children be displaced by the love for the King of the kingdom of God or else, one would be disqualified.

Similarly, if a person aspiring to the kingdom of God does not bear the burdens of persecution and hazards of membership in the kingdom, they would be disqualified.

The kingdom of God is an exacting domain and its mission on earth is a pitched battle against the kingdom of darkness that by definition is lawless and cruel.

Where those in the kingdom of God come into contact with the world and the kingdom of darkness, a clash of civilizations erupts and thus the followers of Jesus are advised to be prepared to endure these conditions of conflict.

The Lord completes the laying the groundwork for the concept of spiritual conflict with an axiomatic principle in verse 39; 

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

When operating in the kingdom of God and serving its King, a person who in the face of danger tries to preserve his own life, will instead lose it while the person who relinquishes his life for the King of the kingdom of God, will gain his life.

Amen.

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