Citizens of His Kingdom

Citizenship of the Kingdom looks beyond this life. When this life comes to an end, when we die, life is not finished. There is a life to come. And the kind of life we have lived here will make all the difference to the kind of life we'll live in the world to come. In school we cannot move up to a higher class until we have faithfully done the work of a lower class. Unless we had faithfully done the tasks of the lower class we would not be fit for the higher tasks of the higher class. Life is like that. To die is like moving up to a higher class. . . In that world to come we will be very directly in God's presence. That must mean that we can be happy there only if we have done God's will. And so to do God's will is not only the thing which brings us happiness in this life; it brings us happiness also in the life to come. That is why it is so important to become a citizen of the Kingdom. It is worth much to be happy in this life. It is worth still more to be useful to others; but it is worth most of all to find happiness in the life to come which is to last forever. And we can only find these things when our will is God's will and God's will is our will; that is, when we are really and truly citizens of his Kingdom.

-From The King and the Kingdom by William Barclay; part of The Inspirational Study Bible: New Century Version by Max Lucado

Are you discouraged by temporary setbacks? Remember the ultimate victory comes only in Christ when we will live with him forever. What areas of your life are too focused on this world's happiness? Consider God's ultimate plan and revise your goals.

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