Can You See the Kingdom?

Last Sunday, I heard a sermon on this chapter of John and I saw something which I hadn’t seen before. If this verse is quoted, we usually focus on the last two words about being ‘born again’ and I know that, over the years, what that actually means has been a subject of controversy in some church circles.

This time what I saw was ‘no one can see the kingdom of God’. I think it struck me particularly because I’d been preparing some teaching and looking at the fall of man in Genesis 3. The devil told Eve, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” And it does go on to say in verse 7 that, when they ate the fruit, ‘Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised they were naked’. However, obviously, they could no longer see the Kingdom of God. They’d been used to walking closely with God and sharing with Him and knowing His protection. Suddenly they were hiding from Him, feeling emotions they hadn’t known before, and trying to protect themselves.

The enormity of not being able to see the Kingdom of God started to sink in for me. We feel frustrated with the world at times, don’t we, with politicians and people who campaign for what seems obvious to us to be ungodly? Yet they can’t see it. They can’t see the Kingdom of God!

I don’t think we see it all at once. It’s something that grows, and we see more and more as we seek more of God through Jesus and the new birth that comes from the Spirit.

Prayer: Father, we ask that we might see more of Your Kingdom. Please reveal to us the glorious truth of what it means to be in Your Kingdom by Your grace and the amazing sacrifice of Jesus. He sealed the covenant, giving us the opportunity to enter safely into Your Kingdom under Your eternal protection. Thank You, Lord. Amen.