Think of the things that make our world a hard and dark place. What comes to mind? A short list might include: death, injustice, poverty, racism, oppression, war, hatred, disease, and self-righteousness. Can you imagine a world where these causes of misery have been removed? There would be: life instead of death, justice instead of injustice, prosperity instead of poverty, unity instead of racism, freedom instead of oppression, peace instead of war, health instead of disease, and humility instead of self-righteousness. It sounds too good to be true.

But it is true. This broken world is going to be totally restored by the coming of the Kingdom of God to earth. All causes of misery, struggle, and sadness will be removed and people will live in perfect harmony with one another, and also with God. The world will be filled with love and joy. Nobody will get angry, depressed, or worried. Nobody will get sick, contract diseases, or suffer pain. Nobody will feel empty, lost, or unloved. When the Kingdom of God comes in full, it will be heaven on earth. Forever.

To see this vision in the Scriptures, see: Revelation 7:9-10, 21:1-5, 22:1-21

This vision will come to fruition when God’s chosen King, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, returns to make all things new (Revelation 21:5) by establishing the Kingdom of God powerfully and permanently on earth (Daniel 7:13-14). Until then, we get glimpses of heaven on earth as God works in and through ordinary people who have chosen to bow to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Such people, like the world, are going to be completely made new when Jesus returns.

But, even now, they are experiencing the transforming grace of God as disciples of Jesus Christ. Christians, as we are called, are not bringing God’s Kingdom to earth, we are receiving it (Hebrews 12:28) by faith.

But we are not idle. We have been given a great commission, a tremendous task, a majestic mission.