Kingdom of the Heavens and Eternal Life

My journey to Community of Hope began with a period of wandering. I felt God calling me to a life on the road, faithfully seeking what He had planned. It was scary, with little money and no idea what the future held. But that’s what faith is all about. When God calls you somewhere new, you take the next step despite your worries, trusting Him to guide you to your destination.

Life is a road. It is full of transitions, big and small, as it moves toward its destination. Jesus’s main message is about navigating the greatest transition of all: God is coming to restore the world and usher in a new way of life (Matthew 4:17).

To those of us who are used to the ways of the world, Jesus’s new way of life sounds completely backwards (Matthew 5:3-12). Give generously instead of being selfish? The weak, poor, peaceful, and disadvantaged are blessed? That sounds like insanity in a world that prizes strength, wealth, power, and individualism above all else.

But God’s new way of life isn’t just coming; it has already begun. Jesus calls us to stop living in the past and start preparing for the future. That means going deeper than simply following God’s rules. Don’t just avoid murder or sexual immorality; root out anger and lust from your heart. Be sincere, forgive rather than seek revenge, and love your enemies (Matthew 5:21-45).

God asks a lot of us. Following Him will be difficult and sometimes frightening. But the most liberating part is that we can just do it. When God calls you to do something that seems impossible, step forward with confidence because He loves you, walks with you, and wants you to succeed (Matthew 7:7-12).

Don’t be afraid of your next transition. Take the next faithful step on your journey, and trust God with the destination.

You can watch the full sermon here.