Kingdom of God? Can We Have It Here On Earth?

Matthew 13:44-51

44 “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.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.
48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.

49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
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Here is my little sharing once again (I wish I can call it a mini sermon, but till the day I am qualified to call it so). May it blesses you.

Pointer:
v44-45 tell us that
1) Kingdom of heaven is precious and of great value; ("treasure", "fine pearls")
2) It is hidden and one can only find it through active (not passive) searching. ("A man found it", "merchant looking")
3) Once found, it brings joy to its founder; ("...then in his joy went...")
4) People do yearn and want to have the Kingdom of God, above and beyond any measurable materials and wealth. ("sold all he had and bought that field")

v47-48 tell us that
1) Kingdom of God (akin to a net) is available to everyone, including the good and bad; ("caught all kinds of fish")
2) There will come a day when the Kingdom of God (net) will be filled with "fish";
3) The good fish shall be separated from the bad ones;
4) The bad ones will be thrown into hell ("blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"), while the good ones remain with the chief fisher of man (Jesus).

v51 tell us that
Jesus clarified with his disciples to make sure that they really understand what the Kingdom of God is like.
***Therefore it is very important for us to understand it too!

Are we doing all we can to seek God and His truth? Remember that we have to actively seek it, thus effort is required. You can't just sit around and hope to become enlightened or wiser through His words without putting in any due effort. Yes, indeed God looks at our hearts, but first we must have the heart before our actions match it! Most of us should be familiar with Luke 11:9-10 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Notice that in this 1 verse alone, many verbs describing actions were used. So it is paramount that one needs to actively seeks, finds, knocks, asks, receives...before the door can be opened.

Many are caught in the rut of complacency and have the mis-concept of "once-saved-forever-saved" belief. I challenge and rebuke this theory (and people who teach such) boldly in the name of our Lord Jesus! Many have and had (present and past tenses) found the Kingdom of God (the net catches all types of people), but they will still be separated from God in the end days if they are deemed "bad". Also, by now you would probably have read my posting regarding God's view on lukewarm Christians, and how He will regard them on His judgement day.

Fellow brethren, seek Him and His righteousness while you still can, and while there's still time. For a time shall come when one seeks, finds, knocks, asks, and the door shall not open anymore.

Matthew 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Forever His tiny but powerful fish,
Stephen
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44 天 国 好 像 宝 贝 藏 在 地 里 ， 人 遇 见 了 就 把 他 藏 起 来 ， 欢 欢 喜 喜 的 去 变 卖 一 切 所 有 的 ， 买 这 块 地 。
45 天 国 又 好 像 买 卖 人 寻 找 好 珠 子 ，
46 遇 见 一 颗 重 价 的 珠 子 ， 就 去 变 卖 他 一 切 所 有 的 ， 买 了 这 颗 珠 子 。
47 天 国 又 好 像 网 撒 在 海 里 ， 聚 拢 各 样 水 族 ，
48 网 既 满 了 ， 人 就 拉 上 岸 来 ， 坐 下 ， 拣 好 的 收 在 器 具 里 ， 将 不 好 的 丢 弃 了 。
49 世 界 的 末 了 也 要 这 样 。 天 使 要 出 来 ， 从 义 人 中 把 恶 人 分 别 出 来 ，
50 丢 在 火 炉 里 ； 在 那 里 必 要 哀 哭 切 齿 了 。
51 耶 稣 说 ： 这 一 切 的 话 你 们 都 明 白 了 麽 ？ 他 们 说 ： 我 们 明 白 了 。