Matthew 11:12 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.
The only way one earthly king can
take over another kingdom is through a violent military campaign. There will be
a degree of opposition that will be faced, and it will require forcefully
overwhelming and defeating the opposing forces to claim victory. Because of the
chances of losing many lives, there must be great worth attached to the
possible success, and it all must be worth it in the end.
Jesus used the symbolism of a
physically violent campaign to take over an earthly kingdom to illustrate the
spiritual entrance into God's Kingdom. From the time John the Baptist first
began preaching that the Kingdom of God was at hand, there has been much
violence attached to the Kingdom.
Symbolically, the Kingdom has been invaded by many forceful sinners who knew the treasure's value that lay within its borders. Those that are lazy, sluggish, and content with the status quo will never try to conquer an opposing kingdom. Some will not go against any opposition to God's Kingdom from family or friends even though the treasures there are unimaginable to the worldly intellect. These spiritually uncaring and unconcerned do not comprehend the esteem of the prize. More importantly, they do not see their desperate need for what the Kingdom of God holds for them.
The physically violent ones possess the fortitude necessary to conquer an earthly kingdom. These physically violent are representative of the spiritually violent. The true, determined, spiritually ferocious will let nothing stand in their way of the Kingdom of God. They will overwhelm all opposition, wherever it comes from, and seize tenure of the grand and wonderful prize of salvation, the forgiveness of sin, and eternal life.
To enter into the spiritual
Kingdom and claim it for ourselves, we must be spiritually passionate and
forceful. In other words, we must realize that we are sinful intruders that do
not belong in the Kingdom of God. We must exert the force of Christ Jesus and
the message of the Gospel of grace and faith so that we might break through
Satan's barriers. Satan will erect many blockades and hurdles to attempt to
cause us to throw in the towel. However, no matter how difficult Satan might
make our campaign to take the Kingdom of God for ourselves, the treasures found
there are beyond any human comprehension.
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