The Kingdom of God by Eugene Leland

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 24, 1911

The Kingdom of God

By Eugene Leland

EUGENE LELAND

QUITE frequently, in giving expression to a thought, the speaker says exactly the reverse of what he should say. Not long since a person, in speaking of his Christian experience, made the remark that if he could only enter the kingdom of God in his experience, he would be satisfied.

Now, whether he understood it or not, that statement is exactly the reverse of what he should have said. Paul, in Rom. 14:17, says, “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” And our Saviour, in speaking of the kingdom of God, said, “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21. So, then, the speaker instead of saying that he would be satisfied if he could only get into the kingdom of God, should have said, If I can only get the kingdom of God into me, I shall be satisfied.

Paul’s definition of the kingdom of God, as well as our Saviour’s statement as to where we should look for it, indicates clearly that we should not consider it as merely a material place to be enjoyed by the physical senses at some future time, but rather as a spiritual condition to be enjoyed just now.

The kingdom of God is indeed a material place, the enjoyment of which ought to satisfy the desires of every true Christian; but before one can enter that material kingdom of God, it will be necessary for the kingdom of God as a spiritual condition to get into him.

Battle Creek, Mich.