The Eternal Now of the Kingdom of God

Last updated on: May 18, 2019 at 8:11 am by Paul Bane

The Eternal Now of the Kingdom of God 2019-05-18T08:11:15-06:00 Paul Bane

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In various ways, Jesus communicated the Kingdom of God is present in the here and now. His first words were “The time has come; the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk. 1:15) There are a new kingdom and a new realm of time and space revealed. There is a radical paradigm change in how we engage and perceive life. It is the Eternal Now of the Kingdom of God.

In the eternal now of God, the concept of time has neither beginning nor end. Time exists in our mind as a universal concept consisting of the past, present, and future. However every event in your life up to this moment is past history, even the previous second is gone forever. Future time in our minds is as an illusion that doesn’t exist for there is no such thing as tomorrow as time is always now. There is only the present moment a continual eternal now. (More on the Eternal Now)

For theologians, there is a tension between the Kingdom of God being present, and not yet present in the fullness of time. The vast majority of Christians naturally believe with the limits of our understanding of time the kingdom is out there to be fully realized or gained in some celestial land we call heaven. However, others contemplate the kingdom of Heaven is not out there, or not someplace we are waiting to go, but it is an experience in our hearts in the here and now. The Christian mystic sees beyond mere flesh and blood and visualizes the eternal nature of reality. Christ is experienced as the Eternal now and not off in the future sometime. NewAdvent

There is a complete transformation of how we think and approach our view and perception in our minds of where the kingdom of God is found and located. Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk. 17:21) ChristianityToday

One of the most revolutionary truths I discovered was to become aware I no longer live my life (self) as existing autonomously from God. God is no longer “out there,” sought after time and time again; He is here (present) with me. God is not just in heaven but residing with you and me here and now. Scripture states the bread of heaven came down to us (Jn. 6:33). The incarnation of the living Christ unveiled the sustenance of life in real flesh and blood.

The Eternal Christ is now the head of a new family of sons and daughters of God. The Holy Spirit indwells our bodies with the love of God. God came to be with us, to tabernacle with us, dwell with us, to restore us, and it cannot be a more straightforward message. He offers us His presence and life here and now and forever. In our fallen condition separated from the Creator (God) and a world where time is measured it is natural to believe heaven is out there in the future but the truth is the kingdom of God is the active presence of Christ in our lives moment by moment experienced in the Eternal Now and forever.

Image via Pixabay

The Eternal Now – Embracing the Present Moment

Previous Post

August 11, 2018

We all need a Quiet Place one on one with God

Next Post

August 17, 2018 The Romance of the Heart is with our Humanity and God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christian Life Contemplation Contemplative Prayer Grief and Loss Mindfulness Recent Posts Suffering Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2014 September 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz