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     Recently we considered the four elements of any kingdom (1) sovereign king (2) royal edicts — law (3) citizens (4) territory.  The apostle Paul wrote, “by revelation He made known to me the mystery” (Ephesians 3:3).  This mystery is the entire scheme of redemption of mankind, which was planned even before the creation (Ephesians 1:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2), which includes Jesus kingdom.

     One of the unusual aspects of Jesus’ kingdom is the territory over which He reigns which we considered briefly last week.  “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:31-34).  Each Christian’s heart is the territory of Jesus’ kingdom.  Everything about becoming a citizen of His kingdom and being loyal begins in a person’s heart (spirit)(Romans 6:17) — the special territory of Jesus’ kingdom.  Everything about a person’s faith and lifestyle originate in the heart.  “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 15:4).

     God punished Israel for their idol worship with the 40-year desert wandering.  He did this to see if the people would obey Him from their hearts with genuine commitment and loyalty to God, not by mere ritual or lip service, (Deuteronomy 8:1, 2).  Although God did not send false prophets, He used them as opportunity to test the Israelites’ faithfulness from the heart (spirit) to Himself (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

     We are warned not to be dishonest.  That begins with our own relationship with God because, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).  It is usually difficult to admit one could have been wrong all of his life, especially if that “wrong” faith was taught by their parents, thinking it was true, yet never confirming it with God’s word.  Thus folks will hang on to their denial and somehow hope it all works out on judgment day.  Jesus knows the heart, thus He adds to His church those who are really initially saved (Acts 2:47) and who are faithful to the end (Revelation 2:10).

     In his last speech, King David admonished Solomon to “… know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

     “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10).  Christians must love God with all of the heart.  That means to trust and obey King Jesus (Ephesians 1:13-14; John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).

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