Read to the end
You were raised in one kingdom. Its rules feel so normal you've never questioned them. The other kingdom runs the opposite direction, and it crashes into almost everything you've been taught. Read to the end before you decide it's wrong.
It has rules. Look good. Get ahead. Protect yourself. Get even. Buy the next thing. Worry, because nobody else is going to look out for you.
But there's another kingdom, with rules that go against everything this world craves.
Here's where the two kingdoms crash into each other.
Seven collisions
01 · This world says
Post it. Or it didn't happen.
One man said
“When you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does.”
Nobody saw it. Someone did. He said there's a Father who sees what happens in secret, and He's the only audience that counts.
02 · This world says
They hit you? Hit back twice.
One man said
“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you.”
We moved past an eye for an eye. Now it's two eyes for an eye. He walked the other direction, and invited everyone to follow.
03 · This world says
Block them. Delete them. Done.
One man said
“Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.”
Canceling someone isn't forgiveness. A grudge means you carry their sin around for them. Forgiveness hands it back and sets you free. (Forgiving someone doesn't mean you have to trust them again.)
04 · This world says
Treat yourself. Add to cart.
One man said
“Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth... for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Having things isn't the problem. It's when your things start to have you. Hold them with open hands, and they can serve His kingdom.
05 · This world says
Stay anxious. That's how you stay safe.
One man said
“See the birds of the sky... Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?”
Worry makes you live every problem twice: once in your head, and again when it actually comes. He pointed to a Father who already knows what you need.
06 · This world says
Wear the right face for every room.
One man said
“When you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret.”
Church face. Work face. Weekend face. He wasn't after a performance. He wanted the real you, the same in every room.
07 · This world says
Build your own empire.
One man said
“Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.”
Empires climb over people. His kingdom sets a table for them. Pray “your kingdom come” and mean it, and something has to go. Starting with yours.
Every line you just read came from one man.
A carpenter from Nazareth. He sat on a hillside about 2,000 years ago and said all of it in a single sermon.
His name is Jesus.
He didn't just teach this way of life. He lived it, all the way to a cross. And He's still inviting people into His kingdom.
Jesus kept calling Him something else: Father. Over and over in that one sermon.
Not a judge waiting for you to slip. A Father who sees what nobody else sees and knows what you need before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8).
You've been lied to.
You have an enemy, and he's been whispering the same lie from the beginning: get more of this world and you'll finally be full. More money. More approval. More pleasure. It never fills you. Jesus called him the father of lies (John 8:44), and said He came so you could have life to the full (John 10:10).
A thief hung on a cross next to Jesus. No church. No good deeds. No time left to fix anything.
He asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus answered:
“Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43
His way of life isn't the price of getting in. It's what happens after He lets you in.
Jesus ended the sermon with two builders. Same rain, same flood, same wind. One built on sand. One built on rock: hearing His words and doing them (Matthew 7:24–27).
The collision that saves you
Here is the most important collision of all, in four plain truths.
01
Every one of us has chosen our own way over God's. The Bible calls that sin, and it separates us from Him.
Romans 3:23
02
He died on a cross in our place, carrying our sin. Three days later He rose from the dead. He is alive.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
03
You can't earn it or work off your past. You can only receive it, the same way the thief on the cross did.
Ephesians 2:8–9
04
“If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
Your decision
You've tried a lot of things. Jesus is the only one who died for you and rose again. If you're ready to trust Him as your Savior, tell Him. No script. No special words. He already knows your heart, so just be honest.
Not sure where to start?
Tell Him the truth about where you've been.
Tell Him you're done running your own kingdom, and that you're sorry.
Thank Him for dying and rising again for you.
Ask Him to lead your life from here.
Out loud, in your car, at 3 a.m. However it comes out, He's listening.
If you trusted Him with your life today, the Bible says you're forgiven and you belong to God. Welcome to His kingdom.
Tell us! We'd love to celebrate with you, pray for you, and help you take your next step.
Tell us you prayedFollowing Jesus was never meant to be done alone. Find a church in your town and go this Sunday.
What to look forAsk your questions or tell us what you're facing. We read every message.
Send a prayer requestWhether you just talked to Jesus, need prayer, or have a question, we read every message and we'd love to pray for you.
Your message stays private. We'll never share your info or add you to a list.
If you're in crisis or thinking about ending your life, please call or text 988 right now. Someone is there 24/7.
Finding your people
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.”
Acts 2:42
That's what the very first church looked like. Look for one that's devoted to the same four things:
A church devoted to teaching straight from the Word of God.
People who actually spend time together and do life together, not just sit in the same room.
Remembering Jesus' sacrifice through communion, and sharing meals around the table.
A church that prays, together and often, and believes God answers.
