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1. God's kingdom has been forcefully advancing from John's days until now

I don't know if you follow current affairs.  As the world map changes and thrones and empires fall, it's important that we take note - not so much of what happens in nations - but of the silent but steady and irresistible advance of God's kingdom.

It's difficult.  It rarely features on TV or newspapers or on the internet.  The problem is that we're talking about what is now an essentially spiritual kingdom.  It makes its advances not with bombs and summit talks.  Rather, largely unobserved, it grows like buried seed.  When there's a violent coup somewhere, it makes headlines.  But what happens with God's kingdom is that individuals are captured - soul and body - and brought into lifelong subservience to Christ.  The take-over is more complete than any human agent could achieve.  The difference is that when God acts, he reclaims what is his.

The change is not always immediately obvious.  When one or two are captured, it merits no media interest and even when many come at once it causes only a ripple.  Nevertheless, the kingdom is advancing and you should know.  Even in Jesus's day it was advancing.  Jesus says it advances forcefully - violently.  It storms forward, presses on vigorously.

Great crowds went to hear John.  Jesus also saw great crowds and many came to faith.  The advance continues.  When Jesus ascended to heaven there were perhaps 500 believers.  With the coming of the Spirit some 3000 entered.  Soon the gospel went all around the Middle East and into Europe.  Soon churches were established all around the Mediterranean and elsewhere.  Throughout the period of the Roman Empire the gospel continued to advance to more places, including these islands.

It's true that there was sometimes decline, but the gospel forcefully advanced into new areas and there were periods of reformation and revival in countries like our own.  Since the 16th Century greater advances have been made into the Americas, Africa, Australasia and the East.

By this stage there are around 500 million Christians world-wide.  About 130,000 missionaries work across the globe and the Bible is available in over 2000 languages.  One book speaks of 'the largest ingathering of people into the kingdom of God that the world has ever seen' going on.  It talks of astonishing growth in Africa and Asia. 

Living where the gospel is despised and where certain influential people are dismissive of Christianity, it's easy to miss this.  Even here despite fierce attacks there are still 2-3 million believers.  More people go to church on Sundays than watch live football on Saturdays.  Every week people are converted.

World-wide since 1960, it is estimated that 50 people have joined a church every day.  Don't let this pass you by.  Wake up to what's happening.  Don't let the media fool you.  God's at work.  His kingdom is forcefully advancing - nothing will stop it.

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2. In that time forceful men have been and are laying hold of it

In light of this, I want you to note that Jesus continues, "and forceful men lay hold of it".  There are two sides to this, he says.  The kingdom vigorously moves forward and at the same time violent, determined men take hold of it!  It's paradoxical.  You might think that if the kingdom is so forceful it's bound to come to you.  But it doesn't work that way - you can be completely passed by.  "It is not your thoughtless, fickle, reed-hunting, sight-seeing people, that get the kingdom, but eager, earnest, 'violent' men."

You can't slip into the kingdom.  Many resist.  We mustn't let that happen.  Rather, you must equally forcefully lay hold of it.

Jesus also says, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."  Satan is a strong foe.  He tries to keep people out.  The world's the same - it wants to stop as many as possible from leaving its ranks.  Our own sinful self cries out against the idea.  And so only vigorous people, forceful individuals, will get in; those who'll stop at nothing in their efforts to enter.  Weaklings, waverers or compromisers won't enter.  Looking for an easy life?  Forget Christianity.

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3. As God's kingdom forcefully advances you must forcefully lay hold of it

May be you are concerned because, to be honest, you're not like that.  You're interested in Christianity, you accept much of its teaching, and obviously prefer heaven to hell.  But as for forcefully entering, as for violence, you're a foreigner to it.  'It's not me'.

Well, let's think about this.  Have you ever been surprised by someone's reaction?  Ever known someone act out of character?  Have you been surprised when someone very placid was angry or violent?  Have you ever seen someone you never saw run in your life, suddenly run?  It happens.  Of course, it happens for a reason. It takes something significant to happen beforehand.  Someone slow is going to miss his bus, someone placid has to flee from fire.

So it is that when they come face to face with truth, people become violent; they forcefully lay hold of the kingdom.  If only you could see it as it really is you'd be the same.  I was burgled once.  The burglar came through a small window.  I was surprised how small, but then a policeman said to me 'If there was a fire and this was the only way out could you get through?'.  I could.

This is your position by nature - you've broken God's Law, you're headed for hell.  If you don't leave Satan's kingdom where you are and enter God's there's no hope.  The only way out is through faith in Christ.  There's no exit but by trusting in him.  You feel you can't do it.  How can I be sure this is the right way?  If you could see the situation as it is, you'd immediately trust in him.  You'd do nothing less. 

I plead with you.  Don't leave it.  Don't toy with Christianity.  Exert yourself.  Do all you possibly can to enter before it's too late.  Lay hold on eternal life now!

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