Image by Christian Crämer from Pixabay

Ever feel a bit lost in the woods like Frozen 2’s Kristoff? I definitely do at times. I can also forget that I’m never truly alone in the wilderness. When I’m tired, however, I may misunderstand (or misread) biblical terms, such as confusing the kingdom of heaven with our future heavenly destination. Try reading Matthew 18:3 with heaven in mind, especially when you’re not sure if your becoming like a little child! 🫤 It’s bound to leave you feeling as if your Salvation is questionable.

Time to set things straight. This verse isn’t about heaven, it’s about a working relationship with God, one where healing and transformation can occur. This doesn’t require perfection on our part, it takes participation. It takes being humble, present and teachable. If you struggle with that, guess what? God can help with that too. 🙏

God’s Kingdom is Within You

Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the kingdom of God come?”

Jesus answered, “God’s kingdom is coming, but not in a way that you will be able to see with your eyes. People will not say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ because God’s kingdom is within you.”

Luke 17:20-33 (New Century Version)

What Does This Mean?

According to Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, within us refers to our spiritual nature. It harkens back to the believer being born again of the Spirit—that is, the Holy Spirit who guides and directs our path. Thus, to have the Spirit of God means that God’s kingdom is not only here among us, it’s also within us as believers and followers. We’re not left alone to conquer our mountains.

So Don’t Quench the Spirit

If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you’ve been born again of God, you also likely know that we can quench the Holy Spirit. We can do things our own way, ignoring His voice and direction. Thus, falling out of step with God.

What About our Salvation?

When we’re not walking with God as a believer, we’re making a conscious choice to go our own way. As one who belongs to Christ this is usually referred to as falling away from God, or going astray. Nevertheless, while this may seem a really sticky point at which one’s salvation is at risk or lost, I don’t believe it’s the case. Faith isn’t linear. A soul can get lost in the woods, take a detour, and come out the other side a changed person. Thanks to God’s protection and preservation. God’s that good and amazing. 🙌

Furthermore, did you know that your Salvation is irrevocable? The Bible tells us so–more than once–if you ever had any doubts. Jesus won’t lose any who have been given to Him because it’s the Father’s will.

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:38-40

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

John 10:28-29

While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

John 17:12

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:4-6

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Berean Standard Bible 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29

Saved, Sealed, Transformed

The Holy Spirit is the proof that we are God’s possession. However, there’s still work to be done in our hearts. We call this Holy work within us sanctification. It’s the transformation that takes place through the renewing of our minds. That renewal occurs when we read God’s word and it becomes visible in our actions and attitudes.

While we can’t lose the gift of the Holy Spirit– and therefore our Salvation–the quality of our work here on earth will be examined and tested. As Scripture describes it, quality work will be rewarded, shoddy workmanship will incur loss, but not to the extreme that we’ll be separated from God. We read this in the following verses.

And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.  If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (New American Standard Bible 1995)

Jesus also gave us parables about using the gifts (or talents) that we’ve been given instead of squandering them. This means that time is precious and there’s work to be done.

Read the parable of the talents here.

When a Believer Goes Astray

Jesus chases after his lost sheep. 🧡🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑 🧡

Read the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son here.

When The Journey Becomes Dark and Difficult

Before we’re too quick to judge those who struggle with things that we don’t–or we haven’t yet tripped over–we should walk a mile in their shoes. Considering that we aren’t usually able to do so, we shouldn’t be so quick to put our two cents in. We fall short in many ways as well. The Apostle Paul spoke of this in the book of Romans.

Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.

You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.

Romans 2:1-4 (The Message)

Jesus also covered it well when He said, Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye’? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)

Instead of micromanaging others, we should manage our own actions and attitudes. To help those in need we can empathize and have compassion. We can pray and offer to pray with them.

When our own faith journey becomes difficult it’s time to start flexing our weak spiritual muscles again. Prayer and reading Scripture is always a great restarting point. God wants to supply our needs and lead the way.

God Wishes to Give us the Kingdom.

If you’re experiencing a season of great spiritual distress and opposition, or know someone who is, there is a time and season for all things here on earth. This season isn’t void of lessons and advancement. These sticky areas can also pass. After all, we have the kingdom of God within us. This means that we always have God’s help regardless of the circumstances.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32

Thank you for reading. God Bless. 🧡🍁🍂

–Tina