Have you ever felt that there’s more to the Christian life than what you’re currently experiencing? That nagging sense that God has something greater in store, but you’re not quite sure how to access it? You’re not alone. Many believers find themselves in this position, longing for a deeper, more transformative faith experience.
The truth is, there’s a profound difference between being saved and truly entering the Kingdom of God. While salvation is a free gift available to all who believe, entering the Kingdom requires something more – a complete surrender and transformation of our hearts and minds.
Jesus spoke extensively about the Kingdom of God, using parables and direct teachings to illustrate its nature and importance. He emphasised that seeing the Kingdom and entering it are two distinct experiences. While being born again allows us to perceive the Kingdom, entering it demands a deeper level of commitment and change.
Consider this powerful statement from Jesus: “Unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This goes beyond the initial salvation experience, pointing to the need for water baptism and a Spirit-filled life. It’s the first test of our submission to Christ’s lordship.
But what exactly is the Kingdom of God? It’s not a physical place or a future heavenly realm. Rather, it’s the rule and reign of God in our lives right now. It’s a spiritual dimension that exists all around us, waiting for us to step into it fully. Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This prayer isn’t just about future events; it’s an invitation to allow God’s reign to manifest in our lives today.
Entering the Kingdom requires a radical shift in priorities. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). This means putting God’s rule and His ways above even our most basic necessities. It’s a call to trust Him completely with every aspect of our lives.
The path to the Kingdom is narrow, and Jesus warned that few find it. Why? Because it demands complete surrender and obedience. It’s not enough to simply call Jesus “Lord” or even to perform miracles in His name. He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
This teaching challenges us to examine our hearts. Are we truly submitting to God’s will, or are we still trying to maintain control over certain areas of our lives? The Kingdom cannot coexist with our own little kingdoms of self-rule.
Jesus used the metaphor of yeast working through dough to illustrate how the Kingdom should permeate every aspect of our being. It’s not meant to be compartmentalised or limited to certain “spiritual” activities. The power of the Kingdom has the potential to transform our entire lives if we allow it to work through us completely.
One of the most challenging requirements for entering the Kingdom is becoming like little children. Jesus said, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). This isn’t about innocence or naivety. Rather, it’s about cultivating childlike humility, trust, and dependence on God.
Children naturally yield, receive, and follow. They don’t insist on autonomy or self-rule. This is the attitude required to enter the Kingdom – coming empty-handed, dependent, and trusting. It’s a stark contrast to the pride and self-sufficiency that often characterize our adult lives.
Pride is perhaps the greatest obstacle to entering the Kingdom. It resists surrender, exalts self-rule, and insists on its own way. Pride builds its own throne and refuses to submit to another. But God cannot reign where we insist on governing ourselves. The proud are too full of self to receive the reign of God.
Entering the Kingdom begins with abdicating the throne of self. It’s a continual process of letting go of our own desires and ambitions, and aligning ourselves with God’s will. This transformation doesn’t happen overnight – it’s more like a mustard seed growing slowly but steadily, eventually overshadowing everything else in our lives.
The beautiful promise is that as we enter the Kingdom, we begin to experience the power and authority that comes with it. The early disciples saw incredible miracles and transformations as they submitted to Christ’s lordship and carried His Kingdom authority. This same power is available to us today, but it comes at the price of complete surrender.
Many Christians long for revival – for a powerful move of God that will transform their lives and communities. But true, lasting revival isn’t about isolated experiences or emotional highs. It’s about living continually in the reality of God’s Kingdom. When we truly enter the Kingdom, we’re walking in a constant state of revival.
So how do we respond to this call to enter the Kingdom? It starts with honest self-examination and confession. Where are we still holding onto control? What areas of pride or self-rule are we clinging to? We must be willing to let these go, to become like children again – humble, dependent, and fully trusting in our Heavenly Father.
Then, it’s about daily choosing to live under God’s rule. It’s seeking His will in every decision, big and small. It’s allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us when we stray and empower us to live as true Kingdom citizens.
Entering the Kingdom is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey of surrender and transformation. It’s challenging, but the rewards are beyond anything we can imagine. As we yield more and more to God’s reign, we’ll find ourselves walking in greater authority, seeing more of His power at work in and through us.
The invitation is open. The narrow gate stands before us. Will we have the courage to let go of our own kingdoms and fully enter into His? The choice is ours, and the implications are eternal. May we all hear and respond to the call of the Kingdom, allowing its transformative power to work through every aspect of our lives.
