Kingdom of Heaven and perseverance

A wild, unruly river flooding the basin, that could pull in elephants. What would happen to a feather of a bird caught in it? That is the state of a weak man who is trapped by the threesome – world, flesh and Satan. He would only go by the flow of it. He cannot even imagine swimming against the flow of the stream. Just assume that in this circumstance, the feather is filled with the Holy Ghost and it outrageously swims against the flow of the stream. Whilst the elephants and bisons are pulled into the flow the river, a petite weak feather tears apart the brook by swimming against its flow. This is the Christian life.

Are we the bird’s feather? Because, the Christian life is not the easiest path.

‘From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it’ (Matt 11:12).

Nowadays, a foolish group of modern Christians presume that their names could be added in the Book of Life by reciting the same little prayer and signing in a form to be baptized without knowing what baptism is. How pathetic! If it is this much easier, God would not have said, ‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?’ (Luke 14:28). I am not saying this to discourage you, but to wake you up from this ignorance and to destroy the unawareness.

Lazy are not allowed into the Kingdom of Heaven. The ignorant should not even dream of it. The entrance ticket to the heavens might be free, but it was paid an invaluable price and was bought for us. After entering it, until you reach your destination, there is only one rudder – ‘Perseverance!!’ Is running a race easy? Is wrestling easy? Is journeying in the narrow roads eathy? Is it light to live the life of Sermon on the Mount? Is fellowship (as of the first century church) easy? Are troubles trivial? Is it ordinary to kill the flesh and to hate the self? Is it easy to carry the cross? Is it easy to die as a martyr? Beloved readers, this is the Christian life. We cannot even move a cell without the help of the Holy Spirit. The swim of a feather against the flooding river, is possible only with the strength of the Holy Ghost.

‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8)

The flood of alluring world in the reign of the flesh, takes in any a man into it. The flood will swallow the whole nation. The one with the Life will fight against it, will persevere and will reach the destination.

Dear readers, have we found against the flood that tries to consume us today?

‘In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.’ (Heb 12:4)

Are we rowing against the force that tries to covet us everyday? Can we say boldly that who dares to separate me from the love of Christ? Are we persistent in our prayer and fasting? Some years ago Jacob strove to God in his sleep. Do we have such experience?

‘I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense, thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:’ (Proverbs 24:30-32)

I remember the words of Leonard Ravenhill, a man of God: There would be revival in our churches now if we show our dedication to spiritual life as we do in our worldly duties. At the same time, if we show our laziness and ignorance in our worldly duties as we do in spiritual life, we would be paupers now.

How many struggles do we face to succeed in our worldly duties! How much time do we spend for it! How many times do we attempt for that victory! But for the Kingdom of God? Is it that cheaper? Do you know the price of it?

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.’ (Matt 13:44). Does today’s corporate-style Christianity know the value of the Kingdom of Heaven?

We call ourselves Christians but give least importance to the Kingdom of God, whereas much more importance to the worldly stuff. We have not seen the treasure, we did not seek for it. We do not even know such treasure exists. Spiritual blindness! Our treasure is in this world so we are here pursuing it. We call ourselves Christians. The world will believe it. But will the Kingdom of God trust it?

What do we have to do?

‘Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.’ (Pro 2:3-5)

The one who seeks God and his kingdom as he seeks for silver and treasure is the citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. The ones preaching about God only to obtain the worldly blessing are spreading a very horrid disease and calling it proudly as ministry.

The one who molests the Kingdom of Heaven shall dwell in it. Many will think only of prayers as I say molest. Not just prayers! When our eyes are attracted towards lust, fighting against it and seeking Christ through those eyes is persistence. Surrendering our hands to the Holy Ghost and not to the flesh is persistence. Imprisoning our thoughts that run adrift into Christ is persistence. Ornating ourselves with modesty while pride tries to crown itself over us is persistence.

‘If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.’ (Matthew 5:29-30)

The Old Testament teaches us how to overcome enemies like Philistines, Amalekites and Edomites. But in the New Testament we fight against the deeds of flesh like lust, pride, jealousy, anger and overcome them. Without perseverance, there is no Kingdom of Heaven! Also keep me in your prayers as I myself am a combat against the threesome enemies as you.