People who want to experience the growth revealed in the Bible will turn (repent) from the ways of the world, to the ways of the kingdom of God, because the ways of the kingdom work. The kingdom of God, which seeks truth, reality, peace, righteousness, and purity of heart, is altogether different from the kingdom of this earth, which seeks to satisfy the pride and the desires of man. “For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person; such a man is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Ephesians 5:5). The path to growth and to make things work, is the path of God’s kingdom, not the ways of the world. For people to grow and find life worth living, they must do the two things to which the kingdom and righteousness refer. They must seek the ways of God (principles and how His kingdom works and operates) and they must live and internalize those ways for themselves.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus describes the path to the kingdom: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:3-11).
If we could see and understand the things the way the Bible presents them, we would not be opposed to holy living (righteousness). Here is a quick look at the Beatitudes of which is a blue print for a good life: Run from the things that will destroy your life. Be a person of your word, and people will trust you. Don’t do good just to those who are good to you, be good to everyone. Make amends with those who have hurt you and work out your conflict with others. Don’t be religious for show, but be spiritual in the privacy of your own heart. Don’t be materialistic; invest your resources, your time and money into things that will last forever, like God’s ways and people. Stop judging other people; turn your concerns to your own attitudes and behavior. Guard the good things of your heart from those who would want to harm you. Treat other people in the same way you would want to be treated. Beware of false spiritual teachers; examine how they live and notice what happens to the people who follow them. Build a life on what Jesus taught and you will have a solid life on which to stand; when you do and no matter what happens you will get through it.
We are to seek the things of God as a priority over the things of the world because the kingdom of God it is of greater value than all the world’s riches. In our own lives we need to turn (repent) to the ways of God’s kingdom and righteousness, not to be good, but to live well. To find His ways is to find the kingdom. To live out His ways is to find righteousness. To find His kingdom and His righteousness is to find the life God intended you to have. Is all your time and money spent on goods and activities that will certainly perish, or in the services of God?
To find His kingdom and His righteousness is to find the life God intended you to have.
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