The Journey to the Kingdom

In all journeys people make, there are reasons for travelling and also the destinations to be reached. The same with Christians. We learn, study and preach the word of God because we want to be in His kingdom. The reason is that we want internal peace and everlasting life in the kingdom of God which is our destination.

The first step to take when we hear of the kingdom of God and its beauty, is a desire to be part of it by our repentance. This requires us to leave our old/former way of life behind us and accompany Jesus to the kingdom. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, told the people that they needed this repentance. So repentance is really the first step we should seriously take, followed by conversion and baptism.

Baptism is a complete immersion of a repented mature person in water, symbolising death and burial; rising up from the water signifies resurrection (Colossians 2:12). In the letter of Paul to the Romans, Paul wrote that baptism unites us with Christ Jesus: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were buried with him by baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his!” (Romans 6:3-5). We see from this that it is not just a baptism but a complete change from our old way of living, we become new – newly born.

“Repent, therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted our …” (Acts 3:19). After baptism, our way of life must be that which suits the true believer of Christ Jesus. We are not assured of salvation just because we are baptised, but the way we live this present life will be determined when Jesus returns. If we continue therefore in faith after baptism, by God’s tender mercies and grace we shall be saved (Ephesians 2:8).

God has brought us salvation through Jesus our Saviour. If we reject this offer, we shall suffer eternal death, yet if we accept it we will have peace and everlasting life. How good this is! No more death and any form of suffering. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope – the appearing of our saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness, and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).

Bro Joseph Chimuku tending the flowers

Bro Joseph Chimuku (Mazabuka, Zambia)