By John David Hicks
“Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20–21).
Acknowledge that fact—that God dwells in you and that your body is God’s Temple (1 Cor. 6:19). This belief and this belief alone will bring you into the Lord’s Holy presence. You come by faith with the assurance of the Word of God that “the kingdom of God is within you.” Paul tells the Colossians in 1:27 NLT, “This is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory.”
This is what the book of Hebrews calls the rest of faith that God wants you to enter (Heb.4:10). This “rest” is the assurance that God’s plan and purposes will be accomplished. On the other hand the Bible warns, “So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief” (Heb. 3:19). But by faith Abraham received the promise because he considered him faithful who made it (Heb. 11:11). God has said, “I am watching over My word to perform it” (Jer. 1:12).
You are free from struggling and striving when you enter into this rest of faith. He will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). He is always with you: talk to Him any time, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess.5:17). “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). The purpose of righteousness is so you can come into the presence of God. Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33). In His presence, the “peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” is added.
David declared, “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4). “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience… Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:19–23).
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1–2).
Dear Lord, I thank you that the Kingdom of God is within me—with your “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” I am your temple, your dwelling place. Thank you for helping me to understand that the access I have gained into Your grace in which I now stand has come to me by faith. Help me to rejoice in the hope of your glory!
Lord, you have said “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20). “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).