So, if someone is unwilling to fight with their whole life as the price to be paid, they will never possess the Kingdom of Heaven. Many Christians do not know this. It is very concerning. Now, let us be aware. That is why the Lord Jesus himself said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In Luke 12:32–33, the Lord says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to people experiencing poverty! Make for yourselves purses that do not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, thieves cannot reach that, and moths do not destroy it.”
If we do not move our hearts away from the world, we will never be able to enter the Kingdom. How wicked it is when someone teaches, “As long as you confess faith, you automatically obtain the Kingdom of Heaven.” This is deception and a dumbing down that leaves Christians parked on earth instead of oriented to heaven. In fact, many Christians still have their hearts parked on earth. Yet the Lord says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That means our hearts must be moved. Therefore, the Word of the Lord says, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor! Make for yourselves purses that do not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, thieves cannot reach that, and moths do not destroy it.” Literally, this statement is so, but figuratively, it means that our hearts should not be attached to the world.
The same applies to peace with God. Without Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, no door would be open to possess and experience peace with God. However, the content and purpose of that peace can only be experienced and possessed through struggle. Thus, by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the door of reconciliation with God was opened. Yet the content and purpose of that reconciliation must be experienced and possessed through the believer’s life struggle. We are reconciled with God, but is there fellowship? What is the content and purpose of that peace? The damage comes when Christians feel they are reconciled and then are content merely to attend church. That is considered the content of peace. In truth, if we are truly reconciled with God, status alone is not enough. There must be a real implication in the content of the peace we live out. It is pointless to establish peace with God if nothing is achieved through that peace.
Peace does not merely give us the status of being reconciled with God; through that peace, a person becomes a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, namely, a partner of God. Theologians can competently explain the concept of reconciliation in soteriology. But the question is: what is its content? A person cannot live in peace with God if they do not live as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven according to the purpose of the believer’s calling. We are called to be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, indeed, more than that, to be members of the family of the Kingdom of God, namely, children of God. Therefore, we must internalize our existence as citizens of heaven.
Ironically, many do not internalize that they are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. As a result, they do not live according to that calling. In the end, they will be rejected, and the Lord says, “I never knew you.” A person who does not internalize that they are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven cannot live in peace with God. Conversely, if a Christian internalizes their life as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, then they can fellowship with God.
Fellowship with God—in theological terms—is often called being a partner of God. What does it mean? Fellowship with God means having unity of feeling and unity of mind in one struggle for the interests of the Kingdom of God. The interests of the Kingdom of God center on the Person of the Creator and Owner of life, namely God the Father. Thus, the ultimate interest of the Kingdom of God is to bring joy to the heart of God the Father.