Advent Day 19: At Home in the Kingdom

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Colossians 1:12-13).  When we believe the gospel message of Jesus Christ by faith, we enter into the kingdom of God; right here, right now.

“[He] qualified us.”  We have a right to be here.  We have our papers, if you will.  We have the qualifications, in Christ, to be here in the new kingdom.  “He delivered us.”  He rescued us.  He saved us from the penalty and ongoing power of sin.  “[He] transferred us.”  We have been transferred to a new kingdom.  We have left the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of Satan, and arrived at our new home in the kingdom of “His beloved Son.”  We have not had a new wing added to our old house.  We have been plucked from our old habitation and dropped into an entirely new castle of our King.  We have a new home in the kingdom of God.

God has placed inside us a longing for home.  By God’s grace and revelation, we have found our way back home.  It was a longing the Old Testament saints felt as well.

“By faith Abraham lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:9-10).  Abraham longed for his true home.  But the way home was waiting to be fulfilled in Jesus.  “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40).

 That “something better” is Jesus.  We have truly found our way home in His kingdom.