This Is Not Our Home

John 18:33-37

Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

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Jesus told Pilate that His Kingdom does not belong to this world. We hear so many of us voicing our concerns about this world and the things that are happening (and/or not happening) all around us. But, Jesus speaks to us individually through what He is saying to Pontius Pilate. His Kingdom is not earth, but His Kingdom has come in the form of Him. Once Jesus entered this “other” world, He broke the chains of death forever. His Offer to us is to re-join him right now in His Kingdom within our hearts. Each and every one of us has the same power within us that Jesus had to conquer the grave. We only need to unlock it and release the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If you remember the story of Lazarus (Luke 16:14-31) and the rich man, there was but a single chasm between where the rich man (who sat in hell) and Lazarus (who sat in Heaven). The rich man could have been sitting with Lazarus, Father Abraham, and all of the others, but he waited too long and was now begging for mercy for both he and his Family who were still in this world. But, by that point it was too late. While it doesn’t matter so much as to when we “cross” that chasm in our hearts to live the Kingdom Life here on earth (so long as we eventually cross it before we leave this world), why would we wait longer enduring a worldly perspective when we can right now be enjoying a Godly perspective? So, let’s cross that river in our hearts each and every day together. There will be tough days and challenges, but God will never waste our pain and suffering. He uses it all to burnish in us a deeper Faith and Love that only true Believers ever really feel in this world. That’s the Hope that comes when we cross-over…