神的国是永恒的，它是最终的现实，那时一切都将会是完美的。但奇怪的是，每当耶稣亲身或透过圣灵在任何地方出现时，神的国也在此时此地降临了。这从马太福音19章便可以看到。
经文说，有一位财主来与耶稣交谈，他很希望得到永生 － 就是得到在神的国里的生命。但他真的渴望那种生活吗？当耶稣告诉这个财主，“去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，来跟从我”，他却做不到，他不愿意做这三件事。
一个财主要进神的国实不容易，耶稣是这样说的。耶稣所指的不只是将来永恒的神的国，祂也是指在现今这个世界去按神的国的模式去生活。
神的国的模式是无私和慷慨的。按神的国的模式去生活，包括完全信赖神会供应一切所需。很可惜，这财主不愿意在此时此地去这样生活。
你又如何呢？你愿意在此时此地按神国的模式生活吗？如果不，你愿意在永恒中这样生活吗？
主耶稣啊，恐惧抓住我们，物质抓住我们 － 真是很难摆脱。求你帮助我放开除你以外其他的一切，好叫我能在此时此地按神国的模式生活。阿们。
马太福音 19:16-26
16有一个人来见耶稣说：“夫子，我该做什么善事才能得永生？”
17耶稣对他说：“你为什么以善事问我呢？只有一位是善的。你若要进入永生，就当遵守诫命。”
18他说：“什么诫命？”耶稣说：“就是不可杀人，不可奸淫，不可偷盗，不可作假见证，
19当孝敬父母，又当爱人如己。”
20那少年人说：“这一切我都遵守了，还缺少什么呢？”
21耶稣说：“你若愿意做完全人，可去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。”
22那少年人听见这话，就忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他的产业很多。
23耶稣对门徒说：“我实在告诉你们：财主进天国是难的。
24我又告诉你们：骆驼穿过针的眼，比财主进神的国还容易呢！”
25门徒听见这话，就稀奇得很，说：“这样谁能得救呢？”
26耶稣看着他们说：“在人这是不能的，在神凡事都能。”
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." - Matthew 19:24
The kingdom of God is eternal. It's the ultimate reality, when everything will be good at last. Surprisingly, though, the kingdom is also right here, right now—wherever Jesus is present in the flesh or by the Spirit. We can see that in Matthew 19.
A rich man who comes to talk with Jesus is very interested in having eternal life—that is, life in the kingdom of God. But does he really want that kind of life? When Jesus tells the man, "Sell everything, give to the poor, and follow me," the man can't do it. He can't take those three steps.
It's really hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. That's what Jesus says. And he means more than entering the eternal kingdom in the future. He also means living the way of the kingdom right here, right now.
Among other things, the way of the kingdom is selfless and generous. And the way of the kingdom includes deeply trusting in God to meet every need. Sadly, the rich man in this story wasn't ready to live that way. Not here, not now.
How about you? Are you ready to live the way of the kingdom here and now? If not, will you want to live that way in eternity?
Lord Jesus, fears grip us, and things grip us—and it's hard to break free. Help me to let go of everything but you so that I can live the way of the kingdom right here, right now. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
