LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD JANUARY 29, 2026

LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD JANUARY 29, 2026

 

Greetings to the precious Saints of God, all over the world,

 

January has sped by as perhaps another indication that “Time is ripe, My work must hasten, whoso will may bide the hour, naught can harm whom God protecteth, elements confess His power, Up YE then to the high places, I have bid you occupy, peril waits upon the heedless, Grace upon the souls who try.”

 

We all know life is fragile and that it is appointed unto man, once to die. We also know that God has His plan prepared for those who choose Him as their Father, as well as plans for those who do not choose Him as their Father.

 

Death is something we may not want to think about very much and yet it takes place all around us twenty-four hours every day. Every day we hear about natural disasters, mankind caused tragedies, diseases ravaging our bodies and so forth. Though we may not understand death in its fullness, yet we know it is part of our living in the Kingdom as well as for the “Ultimate Kingdom of God.” In this earthly life, as we strive to live as citizens in the Kingdom of God, we realize there is yet a greater promise and hope for the actual Kingdom of God, when Jesus comes to take His rightful place as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

 

It is how we live our individual lives each day that has a bearing on what happens when we die. The scriptures tell us that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8 and DC 122:6a. So when we read in Doctrine and Covenants 32:1d “...and it is the eleventh hour…” what does that mean? In our thinking, the eleventh hour is 11 am or pm and the hour just before midday or midnight. At midday, generally speaking, everyone is awake and doing something and not to likely to get caught “Off guard.” At midnight, which has many scriptural references, generally speaking, most people are at home, in bed and asleep, thus likely to be surprised by sudden events. You can look up some of those references on your own, but one of the best known is the Parable of the Ten Virgins where the Bridegroom (Jesus) comes at midnight.

 

The eleventh hour, I believe, is more directed at our spiritual condition than actual time. It s said that, in the world, two people die every second. Therefore, not knowing the second we will die, God has strongly admonished us to be ready to meet Him. Have you ever heard of the “Doomsday Clock?” There is not time or space to cover it in this article, but you can search it out for yourself, if you want. According to the Doomsday Clock, humanity has 85 seconds until midnight meaning humanity has 85 seconds to save itself before mass destruction, etc. You know, all those “Doomsday” theories we hear about. The thing is, humanity is not going to determine when our time is up. Only God knows that and only He will determine our fate. But, since we don’t know the exact time when Jesus will return in His Glory, we are warned to be ready.

 

A student asked the astronomy professor, “If the universe is so vast and we on earth are such a small part of it, can we expect God to pay any attention to our small voices?” The professor replied, “It depends on one thing. How big is the God you worship? How big is the One you believe in?” Life’s problems seem to pile up on us. Disconcerting things are frequently happening to all of us. We become wrapped up in the earthly affairs of life and neglect to talk things over with God. In trying to carry all our burdens alone, trying to solve all our problems without seeking inspiration from God, we cut ourselves off from the Source of all power and intelligence.

 

Faith, trust and prayer are the daily components against the trials and temptations common to everyone. Our God is big enough to meet all our needs. As one song says: “How big is God, how big and wide is his domain To try to tell these lips can only start He's big enough to rule the mighty universe Yet small enough to live within my heart.”

 

God Bless,

Paul Gage