How to Enter the Kingdom Net
In order for a kingdom to exist in reality, it needs three things: (1) a monarch—whether king or queen, (2) the will or ruleof the monarch, and (3) people who accept and submit to the monarch’s rule. A kingdom can exist in exile (without territory) as long as people will serve the king or queen.
The “Kingdom of France” presents an interesting modern example. According to some observers, France has a “rightful” king, namely Jean-Christophe, Prince Napoléon, a.k.a. Jean Christophe Louis Ferdinand Albéric Napoléon (born 1986). The great-great-great-grandnephew of Emperor Napoleon I of France, he also has Bourbon blood (think Louis XV) on the distaff side of his genealogy.
Prince Johnny-Chris has it all. He’s got royal blood, a considerable personal fortune, and a killer career as an investment banker. A smart, good-looking fellow, he undoubtedly has many admirers. His kingdom has a king, to wit, himself. He has a will and could no doubt summon up element two, namely, rule. Nonetheless, he lacks a kingdom, as there are not enough people submitted to his ruleto activate his kingdom. He might turn out to be the worthiest, wisest, and best man ever to stand in the line of succession. Who knows. Whatever. But he remains le roi de rien, the king of nothing. For want of willing subjects, the “Kingdom of France” in fact does not exist. It reminds one of the old adage,
For Want of a Nail
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
The Kingdom of God requires the same three essentials as any other kingdom. It has a King, none other than Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Immanuel. Jesus in fact has a willand rulesover the universe in majesty and splendor. The Kingdom of God becomes living and active when people submit to the ruleof Jesus. As Jesus began his active ministry, he came declaring that the Kingdom of God was advancing forcefully, and people—even tax collectors and sinners–were entering it vigorously. And so it continues to this day.
To enter the Kingdom—and become part of the Kingdom Net—we need do nothing more (and nothing less) than submit ourselves to the Rule of God in Christ. When we do submit to the Rule–making God’s Will our own, obeying Jesus in everything–we activate and realize the Kingdom in our lives. We become part of the worldwide web of people who follow Christ—what I call the Kingdom Net. We make up the very net that God casts into the world to fish for men and women. For more, see The Kingdom Net: Learning to Network Like Jesus (My Healthy Church, 2013). Order it in paperback or Kindle editions.