Day 19

The Fullness of the Kingdom

from the The Kingdom of God reading plan


Psalm 46:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 22:1-21

BY Kara Gause

Jesus’s return will usher in a spiritual and physical reality in which the heavens and earth are fully renewed, where He reigns as faithful King with His redeemed people forever.


Throughout my elementary school years, I managed to milk Albert Einstein for all he was worth. Year after year, I’d recycle my “research” for the annual biography project (subject: always Einstein). I really loved the art portion of the assignments, getting to draw his wild, unruly hair and cheeky twinkle in the eye, perhaps that tongue he used to wag at the camera. Today, photographs of him reveal more wariness than my youth was trained to see. Life grows complicated, as the scientist certainly knew.

Well-acquainted with scientific research himself, Einstein is often credited with this little ditty: “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Now, to my knowledge, Einstein didn’t give much credence to religion of any sort—only God Himself knows his heart. Still, Einstein’s point applies to spiritual life in general, doesn’t it? The tangible “stuff” we look to accumulate on this side of eternity may be counted and stacked, displayed and gazed upon with self-admiration, but we can’t take it with us to the other side of eternity. That stuff does not translate there, doesn’t travel well, so to speak. 

The things that really do count and matter most are not so easily quantified. I cannot take a photograph of the countless conversations that have drawn me closer to Jesus. Those who’ve prayed for me in earnest may have nothing tangible to show for it. Messy and imperfect though it may be, the Christian community I’ve experienced through deep comfort and gentle rebuke bears no trophy for the faithful. Their wisdom and kindness, their care and casseroles, their tears—the world gives no prizes for these. But not so in God’s kingdom! 

God’s kingdom may not be seen or accounted for in the ways this world asks of it, but kingdom things can still be felt and experienced, can’t they? They are discerned and perceived through the lenses of humility and wonder. They are realized in the way we love one another and the world, the way we long for gospel truth to be known. This is how we practice and experience the presence of our King and the fullness of His kingdom today.

We can know as much about this physical world as Einstein, but miss the Designer for the design. What are we missing as we strive to accumulate accolades and wealth that we cannot take with us and do not advance God’s purposes? 

We are meant for so much more. He “has made us a kingdom and priests to our God, and [we] will reign on earth” one day (Revelation 5:10). We have yet to experience the immeasurable fullness of God’s kingdom, but the fullness of God Himself and His love are already ours (Ephesian 3:17–19). He has come and will come again in grandeur—we will see Him face to face! (1Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 22:4). For now, His kingdom has come in us. May it be on earth as it is heaven. Amen.

Post Comments (51)

51 thoughts on "The Fullness of the Kingdom"

  1. Jennifer Anapol says:

    I’m so glad that God is in control and powerful. I feel guilty and foolish for the times I don’t trust in him. I pray I would walk in the fullness of our God. Happy Friday ladies!!

  2. Mercy says:

    Praise the Lord that in Exodus 33:20 “But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”, BUT GOD!! in Revelation, what a glorious closeness He will bestow on us, “We shall see His face and His names on our foreheads” (Rev 22:4). How good are you Lord. Hallelujah.

    Dear ladies, would you please pray for my husband on a new job position application? Kindly pray for God’s favor and mercy to open and smooth out the process, to remove any hindrance or delay, may God open the door through my husband’s work and provision. It has been a struggle for him. Thank you very much dear sisters. I am truly thankful for this strong and prayerful community that are all of you. God bless you all!! Have a nice weekend.

  3. Sheri Davis says:

    ❤️

  4. Victoria E says:

    Sharon, Jersey Girl- me too! I love this verse and it literally leapt off the page (or screen) at me this morning. Praise God for who He is, our refuge and our strength !

  5. Michelle Patire says:

    Gosh, these Scriptures just always sing to my heart. I love reading about the end of days. It brings me such joy and reminds me it’s not so far off. SOON.

    My youngest sister came with me to a Bible group outting the other day. We went mini golfing, so we weren’t studying that day. My sister doesn’t practice religion anymore, as we were raised Catholic and when my parents stopped enforcing us to go after a while.

    On the drive home, we got to talk about faith. I straight up asked, “How do you feel about Jesus?” Because why not, lol. And she went on to tell me that she thinks people have made too many rules about being Christian. That there shouldn’t be so many rules to be with God.
    She doesn’t believe in Hell, but she believes in heaven. She doesn’t think Jesus is God but believes He is the Son of God. She believes in God the Father. She doesn’t really believe in Satan and his demons hurting us. She said we have good and us and bad in us, that’s how we are (true, in some sense…)

    I asked her how it is we get to heaven and she told me that we need God’s forgiveness. So I feel like she gets it, to some extent. But she isn’t seeing how Jesus fits into the equation, even though she grew up hearing the gospel.
    Like she knows God, she has definitely sensed His Holy Spirit, but I don’t know if she could truly confess Christ as Savior.
    It’s kind of hard to explain, so this is my best effort. I have hope she will know Him more, but I pray the gospel becomes clearer. Perhaps the atonement part is just something she doesn’t understand because she doesn’t view Jesus as God. Idk.

    Anyways, it was good and hard to hear how she really feels. She’s 18. The youngest of 7. I pray God continues to reveal Himself to her. I ask if any of you read this, please lift my little sister Bernadette up in prayer. That God would reveal Himself as He has for us. The Savior, the Messiah. The One we need to have eternal life.

    Thanks so much, ladies. God bless!! <3

  6. Donna Wolcott says:

    Anne prayers for your safety and for peace. Have blessed weekend sisters and thank you all for your comments and wisdom.

  7. CeeGee says:

    Love seeing these wonderful Scriptures grouped together this morning. The phrase that jumped out to me this morning was REVELATION 22:11b –
    “Let the righteous go on in righteousness, let the holy still be holy.”
    In the past, I have focused on the words of Jesus following that verse and never focused on it. That is my prayer for all of God’s people through our trials in every nation that we continue to live and love as God has called us to do.
    KARA, your words and these Scriptures are so powerful and encouraging. Thank you all for this wonderful study!!! Have a blessed weekend ladies.
    ANNE, you and your country are covered in the prayers of many! May you find comfort and peace.

  8. Mari V says:

    AMEN! Yes come Lord Jesus!!

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