THe Kingdom of Life

Read His Words Before Ours!
Romans 4:13-25
Romans 5:15-21
Romans 7:13-25  

I slowly lifted the teacup to my lips and breathed in the cooling peppermint before sipping the tea. She sat across from me at the table with her own peppermint tea steaming in front of her. Her dusty blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders to keep away the cool air slipping in from the window behind us. And I waited. Surely she would begin again soon. After another sip of her tea, she took a deep breath and began.

“Many months passed for the beautiful woman with the brown hair. As time went on, she heard the Voice speaking to her, and each time, it was a little louder and little more clear. The Voice told her she was loved and adored, and made for greatness. As she grew familiar with the Voice, she became more and more aware of the emptiness that lingered inside. The light she had seen glowed brighter. Her routine became standing on the shore, watching the light grow nearer, while listening to the comforting Voice. Sometimes she spoke back, but most of the time, she just listened.

“The light continued to grow closer, until one day, a little boat appeared. On that boat was a man, and with him, a woman holding a lantern. They invited the brunette woman to come with them, for they wanted to take her to another Kingdom.

‘But, this is home. This is all I’ve ever known. I’m comfortable here. I’m loved here.’

‘But you are empty, aren’t you? We are inviting you, as ambassadors for the Voice, to come away and be filled! The Voice is the Maker, the creator of everything. He created us and He created you. He loves you and doesn’t want you to feel empty anymore. Come with us, please. We will take you to Kingdom of Light.’

“The woman on the boat held out her hand to the brunette woman who took it, and stepped into the boat. She sat, as the man grabbed the oars and began to row. The small waves caused the boat to rise and fall as they began to float away. And the beautiful, brown-haired woman didn’t look back once. She was going to be filled. She was going to the Kingdom of Light.

“As the Kingdom of Light came into sight, the woman could see hundreds of people gathered on the beach. Some waved white flags while some danced and jumped up and down. The stillness of the sea was overtaken by the sound of trumpets, cheers, and song. It wasn’t until she stepped out of the boat that she realized this great commotion was for her!

“Over all of the shouts, and above all of the music she heard Him yet again, the Voice. ‘I love you, my daughter. I am so pleased with you. Have hope. Have faith. Believe, and be set free.’

“‘Oh, I believe!’ She cried. ‘I believe! Make me new, make me clean, fill me until I cannot be filled anymore!’

“Just then, the Ruler of the Kingdom of Light approached her, He was Life. He gave life. He gave hope. He was the Voice.”

With that, she stopped, the lady’s gaze catching mine.

“Well, my child? What do you think?” She asked. My eyes told what my lips did not, and she knew I was confused.

“Oh dear, can you not see that the Kingdom of Light is where you stand now? You, love, were once a citizen of the Kingdom of Sin. You spent your days trying to become someone, trying to fill yourself up, but never finding satisfaction. And when you chose hope and faith, you chose to become a citizen of the Kingdom of Light. That beautiful brown-haired woman is you.”
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Once again, this story isn’t true but simply metaphorical.

Just as the Kingdom of Death resulted because of Adam, the Kingdom of Light resulted because of Christ, the Ruler of Life. The curse of Adam caused death, while the gift of Christ brought life! As you read the other day, the law was given so we would know sin. Anytime we fall short of the law, we sin. As people sin more and more, the beauty is truly revealed in God’s grace, as it abounds more and more. There is no room for legalism in this Kingdom.

While many are unaware when their citizenship lies with the Kingdom of Death, those who call the Kingdom of Light home, know it full-well, as they made the decision to call it home. The uniqueness of the Kingdom of Light is that the law hasn’t vanished. There is still law. But first there is faith. We read in Romans 4 that Abraham was accepted by God, first because he had faith, and through that he followed the law. Faith in the Ruler of Life is what brings the light, but because of that faith, citizens of this Kingdom long to follow the law. They still fall short, but faith in the Ruler fills those gaps. He accepts us first because of our faith, and through that, we learn to follow the law.

Religion is not something that members of this Kingdom follow to become filled. They don’t need to climb a certain number of steps and bow a certain number of times. There is freedom in that they can worship the Ruler with faith, knowing that they will be filled!

The Kingdom of Light is a Kingdom of freedom.
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Maybe you’re learning that while you call the Kingdom of Light home, you still get stuck in the habits of your old home. You find yourself tracking the number of times you go to church, or you turn to money or sensuality to fill you, instead of Christ. Remember that with this new citizenship comes change. You will no longer be the same person, the old is gone! Do not allow yourself to fall into old habits and old beliefs. You are a new creation. You are a citizen of the Kingdom of Light.

This Bible Study first appeared on Gracefully Truthful and is property of Gracefully Truthful. For more studies like this one, check out the website! ​