Forgotten Promises Resurrected. Mark 12:34

Mark 12:34 NKJV

Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.

What does, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” mean? 

Some Days...

Some days it feels like we live in a quagmire of corruption and there is no way out.  Let’s be honest, even as a Christian if I don’t keep my eyes and my thoughts on Jesus, this world can become very overwhelming in short order and so many things are so chaotic.  Then we read a verse like Mark 12:34 where Jesus tells us that we are not far from the kingdom of God.  How do we reconcile living in a fallen world and at the same time knowing the kingdom of God is at hand and very close?  We are told this but the challenges of this world have a tendency to make knowing the kingdom of God is close hard to believe.  I’m not saying it’s not true, I wholeheartedly know that it is true but there are times I need to remember who I am, an adopted son of God, and who bought and paid for me, Jesus.   I must remember that I have a God given purpose and that purpose is to glorify God, not me.  No matter how hard it may seem at the moment, I need to remember God’s hand of protection is always over me.

Here are a few motivational verses that help me when I am struggling with day-to-day challenges:

1 Peter 4:19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 55:8–9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As we walk this path as a Christian, the more I learn the more I realize I don’t know.  And, the more I realize I need Jesus more than ever.  It’s a seemingly never ending battle within myself.

Understanding the following helps me wrap my brain around  the everyday challenges that I face.  It also helps to know that every situation has a purpose other than just being challenging. 

1. God wants us to know Him and His character – God’s ultimate goal in everything we face is to lead us to know Him more. 

2. God wants to build our character – God’s desire is to shape us to be more like Jesus. He uses our pain and struggles to develop in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. 

3. God allows problems to test our hearts and our motives – God is more interested in our hearts being fully devoted and dependent upon Him than giving us a carefree life. 

4. God wants to use our circumstances to minister to others – God uses our struggles to show other people that He is faithful. He allows us to comfort others because of what we’ve been through. When we live “worthy of our calling” people notice and are pointed to Jesus! 

This brings me back to the verse Mark 12:34 when Jesus said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” is actually being used to let the scribe of those days know and Christians of today know that when we realize that loving God and loving one’s neighbor are “more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices”.  That loving God and our neighbor covers all sin.  It doesn’t matter who your neighbor is, if they are a believer or not but that we as Christians show them the love of God.  And when you understand that the kingdom of God is very close.  

May you always walk in the Truth!