The Kingdom of Heaven We Are Going to

A year has passed, and the New Year has come. I thank God again for giving us the hope of heaven.

Some of people, who do not know where they are going, feel depressed, overwhelmed with a sense of regret and futility when they look upon the year that has passed so quickly. However, those who live in the New Covenant should give more thanks and glory to God because the Kingdom of Heaven is that much closer, and they also should prepare themselves to enter the kingdom of God.

Now, let’s consider the kingdom of heaven we are going to, through the Bible, so that we the people of Zion may live a meaningful and worthy life on this earth every day, joyfully waiting for the kingdom of heaven.

What will you leave behind by using your time?

If one uses money, he will get something from it. He is able to buy a house, some food or other goods. Then, what will we obtain by using the time given to us by God on this earth? We need to think about this.

If we use our time on something but get nothing out of it, it is useless just as Solomon said, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Eccl 1:2). When a man puts his money somewhere else and gets something out of it, his investment can be evaluated as valuable. It is the same with an investment of our time. If we have spent the past one year, there should be the results. There are some who have spent the last one year preparing diligently for the eternal things, storing up their rewards in heaven, and there are some who have spent their time on worthless things and gained nothing.

Time flies like an arrow. Those who are young soon grow old and turn gray, and the time draws near when they should return to their eternal home. However, there are so many people who live without even knowing the existence of the kingdom of God. It is said that Alexander the Great told his generals to let his arms hang over the edges with his palms wide open after his death. He said this as his last will in order to show people that “human beings come empty-handed and go empty-handed.” He spent his entire youth conquering many countries, slaughtering numerous people, and he thought he had obtained everything he had wished for. However, he came to realize that ultimately what he could occupy was only a small space for his tomb. Likewise, many people spend their lives doing things that are empty and meaningless, and ultimately they gain nothing and end up lamenting, saying, “Everything is meaningless.”

God created all things visible and invisible. We, who believe this, should not pour our time and energy into things that are futile and meaningless, but work hard for the kingdom of God where we are going to.

The apostles who bought the kingdom of heaven by investing their lives

God has prepared everything in heaven for His loving children. The glory and blessings that God will grant to His children are exceedingly great and precious beyond human words and thoughts.

… However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”1 Cor 2:6-9

The Bible says that God has prepared for us a blessing that is beyond human imagination-far greater than we could ever imagine. What is extremely valuable has been prepared for us, so we must secure the kingdom of heaven while spending the times of our lives on this earth.

2,000 years ago, when Jesus came to this earth, He told us to buy the heavenly kingdom which is so precious.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”Matt 13:44

Like the man who sold all he had and bought a field to obtain the treasure hidden in the field, we are now preparing for the eternal kingdom of heaven. Eternal blessings and the ministry of the royal priesthood that we will enjoy in heaven-all these are hidden treasures.

Isn’t it wonderful to be able to buy the kingdom of heaven? We have already bought the kingdom of God with the words of promise given by God. Through the gospel of the new covenant that will never change, we have become heirs to inherit the kingdom of God (Eph 3:6).

While people gain nothing from spending their time, we are accurately investing in spiritual things. All we did was just come back to God, nevertheless God provided so many things for us. God pays us back countless times for what we have invested, saying, “Receive eternal life and the everlasting kingdom of heaven as well.”

Eternal joy and glory in heaven

The kingdom of heaven is a place overflowing with joy and happiness all the time. God has let us know this fact through the parable of the hidden treasure and through the records written by many of the forefathers of faith.

“The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began… . I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,”Prov 8:22-30

Solomon, the writer of Proverbs, said that his soul had already been born before the world began, and that he was filled with delight day after day in the kingdom of God. The Apostle John, who saw the kingdom of God in his vision, described how beautiful and glorious it is, and taught that we should never lose the kingdom of God, no matter what we may lose on this earth.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”Rev 21:4-5

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Rev 22:1-5

Please read the above verses, especially when you feel weighed down with the burden of life on this earth and the light of hope becomes faint. We are going to such a wonderful place, where there is no more pain or sorrow but only overflowing joy. All our troubles and sufferings on this earth will soon pass away, and in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Heb 10:37). Then we will enter into the glory of heaven that we will enjoy forever and ever.

He who does the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven

We must not neglect our great salvation. No matter how our enemy the devil tries to corrupt our souls, none of us should foolishly throw away the most precious treasure that we have bought by investing everything we have, as Esau did.

Esau didn’t realize how precious the birthright blessing was. So, when the person who knew its value asked him for it, he thoughtlessly surrendered it to him. Later, Esau realized its value and regretted bitterly what he had done, but the blessing given to Jacob was irretrievable (Gen 25:29-34; 27:1-40; Heb 12:16-17).

How can we sell our birthright for something so trivial-for a bowl of stew to satisfy our temporary physical hunger? Who can endure the thought of losing the right to enter the beautiful and glorious kingdom of God?

The value of salvation given to us is so great and precious that it can’t be replaced with anything else in the world. That’s why the person who finds the treasure puts his time and efforts into obtaining it. So the Bible says that the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it (Matt 11:12).

In order to enter the kingdom of God, we should always pay attention to God’s word and carry out His will.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”Matt 7:21

There are many wills of God recorded in the Bible. It is God’s will that we should keep His commandments, laws and decrees. It is also God’s will for us to have a disposition and faith worthy of God’s people. Above all, there is an important teaching from God, which we should practice in order to enter the glorious kingdom of God.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thess 5:15-18

In the parable, the man who found the treasure hidden in the field was filled with joy. If anyone has found the kingdom of heaven and bought it by investing his entire youth and life, he is the person who has gained the greatest joy.

God’s children are to live in joy every day because they have received the promise of the heavenly inheritance. Since the kingdom of God is ours, we should always be joyful; God has freely given us His kingdom, so we ought to give thanks in all circumstances and hope for heaven. We are going to the kingdom of heaven. Nevertheless, if we do not feel joyful or thankful, we are not worthy of going to the kingdom of God.

If a man has regularly deposited money into a savings account for a long time and he is expected to receive a large amount of money after one month, his heart will start to beat in anticipation. The kingdom of God cannot be compared to anything like that. This precious heavenly kingdom draws nearer day by day. How can we not be joyful and thankful?

We, people of Zion, need to cultivate our faith beautifully, so that we will be able to receive God’s blessings abundantly and meet God in glory when He comes. As an insurance or deposit has its due date, it takes us some time to receive the promised blessing. If we look forward to the day and wait, it will surely be given to us.

The day will be a day of fear to those who have invested nothing for the kingdom of heaven. It depends on us whether we will make the day a day of fear or a day of delight and anticipation. In obedience to the will of Father and Mother, we shall diligently find our lost brothers and sisters, pray continually and study God’s word earnestly, so that we will be able to meet God with joy no matter when He comes.

Hold fast to the kingdom of heaven

The kingdom of heaven cannot be compared or replaced with anything else in the world. So the Bible states that he who will stand in such a holy place should not lift up his soul to vanity. We should run towards the kingdom of heaven to the end, completely trusting in the promise of God.

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. SelahPs 24:3-6

In Revelation, only those who have been redeemed from the earth and proven to be worthy of receiving the inheritance of the kingdom of God can stand on the mount of God with the Lamb (Rev 14:1). They have clean hands and a pure heart, and do not lift up their souls to an idol.

We should not become the foolish ones who have their souls to an idol and lose their share in the heavenly inheritance when God’s appointed time comes. We need to be always joyful and give thanks. Although we may occasionally feel uneasy or hurt, we have to take it away, thinking of the kingdom of heaven that is coming.

Those who are filled with joy do not feel displeased or hurt even if they hear unpleasant words. The Apostle Paul was able to overcome lots of persecution, and Stephen was able to pray for those who persecuted him even at the moment he was being stoned to death, because they had great joy and hope for heaven.

He who is full of complaints and is not joyful or thankful can never enter the kingdom of God. Only the person who is always joyful and thankful in the will of Father and Mother can go to the kingdom of heaven. And the person who can enter heaven is the one who believes firmly in God’s promised inheritance. If anyone is not joyful or thankful but grumbles and complains even though God has promised to give him the kingdom of heaven, it is because he doesn’t believe in the promise of God. The one who believes is full of joy and can be thankful in all circumstances.

We have the joy which others do not know, for we have found the treasure hidden in the field. We have become heirs to inherit the kingdom of God. If we wait a little more, the kingdom of heaven will be ours. Shall we just wait, doing nothing? Not at all. God told us to wait for the kingdom of heaven, saving the world. So, let’s show the treasure we’ve found to all peoples, who have not yet secured the kingdom of God, and guide them so that they can buy the treasure.

The kingdom of heaven is drawing near day by day. Let us cherish deep in our hearts the everlasting kingdom of heaven we are going to, and never replace eternal heavenly things with perishable earthly things. All my family members in Zion, please do not let the fire of the hope of heaven go out but keep it burning, so that we will all receive the crown of life and eternal blessings in heaven.