{:en}Christianity is not about getting to heaven{:}{:es}El cristianismo no se trata de ir al cielo{:}{:de}Im Christentum geht es nicht darum in den Himmel zu gehen{:} |

On one of our first few dates, my now-husband gave me the book Surprised By Hope by Tom Wright (he’s also called NT Wright). I had never heard of that British scholar before. But since I loved reading about Theology, I was excited to dig into this book. What he wrote completely blew my mind. NT Wright’s book lighted a fire in me and gave me a fresh and bigger vision of Christianity, God, and our mission here on this earth.

Little did I know that his book would impact and shape my understanding of God’s love for us and his plan for the world more than any other theological viewpoint. What I’m telling you today is what I lived and breathed over the past few years. I hope and pray that it transforms your view of God and the way you live in the same way as it has changed my perspective.

Many people assume that the goal of a Christian is to go to heaven. Because Jesus died on the cross, they got their ticket to paradise and can escape this bad world after their bodies die. But this is a mere caricature of the Gospel.

Jesus is all about heaven coming to earth.

The Gospels talk about Jesus announcing that God’s kingdom is being established, here on this earth (Matthew 4:17). That’s why Jesus taught us to pray:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

It was Jesus’ mission to proclaim the kingdom of God:

But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” Luke 4:43

When Jesus talks about “the kingdom of heaven” or “the kingdom of God” it is related to the rule of God. It refers to the realm in which God’s will happens. The proclamation of Jesus was all about a new kingdom and a new reign being establishing on earth, as it already exists in heaven.

God is king. What does this mean?

God isn’t a king who rules through violence or manipulation. Rather, he reigns in love, justice, grace, joy, and peace.

Our king, our great, great king, came to serve and give his life:

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

What great love he has for us. God is a king that loves his people so much that his Son died for them. He came to serve.

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) draws a beautiful picture of what it looks like when God is king: People love and help each other, the poor have enough to eat, peace rules, and enemies are reconciled with one another.

What is the kingdom of God like?

God’s kingdom doesn’t look like what the world and even the early disciples expected. Jesus explains that someone who takes the lowly position of a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4). The one who wants to be first must be the servant of everyone else (Mark 9:35). It seems to be upside down from what we know our world to be.

Jesus told many parables about what the kingdom of heaven looks like. You’ll find just a few examples in Matthew 13:24-52.

Only believers are able to see the kingdom of God.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3

To enter the kingdom of heaven, one has to be born again.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5

Jesus left us the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of every believer who repented and was baptized (Acts. 2:38). Through his Spirit, God wants to continue the work he started in Christ. We are called to be his agents to bring about heaven on earth. Our mission is to be led by him to embrace our unique calling so that his kingdom can be established right here where we are with God as king.

Now but not yet.

Jesus healing the sick and loving people are just anticipations of what is to come. The kingdom of God is a present reality and anticipated future at the same time. We experience glimpses of this new reality here on earth. These bits and pieces are like down payments of the glorious future to come.

The final kingdom of God, when heaven and earth are coming fully together, will be an act of God. In that glorious future, God will do wonderful things:

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. Revelation 21:4

This is our hope as Christians: Not only do we have eternal life in the presence of the highest God, but we can already experience heaven on earth, today.

In next week’s blog post I’m going to shed light on what it means to live in the kingdom of God. I’ll explain how God brings about his kingdom on this earth practically and what role you’re playing in this great move of God. If you’d like to get notified as soon as the new blog post is up, subscribe to my newsletter below.

If you have any questions concerning the kingdom of God, let me know in the comments. I’d like to answer them in future blog posts.

Read more:

When you’re confronted with challenges

Marriage is heart work, not hard work

8 practical tips to hear God’s voice

⭐️ Follow me on Instagram for daily encouragement.

⭐️ Do you need more trust in God? Get my 30-day devotional about trusting God and letting go.

⭐️ Do you want to know how to study the Bible for yourself? Get my free 19-page-long Bible Study Basics Guide by subscribing to my newsletter down below.