OUR ENTRANCE into the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ is based on our obtaining the justification of Jesus Christ, which He gained for us by His death and resurrection in which we were members; because the body which died on the cross, was buried and resurrected from death was the body of new humanity Christ gave us, the same that was crucified and resurrected from death. The Apostle Peter’s words that an entrance into the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ was offered to us abundantly means that it was the triumphant entry of Christ following His victory over the world having “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light”1. His words “abundantly” meaning without hindrance from the enemy complaining against us, or interference in our works, being an entrance that is not tainted by questioning or inspection, an entrance surrounded with angels and the spirit of saints in indescribable praise and glory. The Apostle Peter revealing this entrance was a unique and unprecedented kind of revelation. It was as if he had seen the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven wide open with angels greeting and joyfully acclaiming those arriving.

According to the extent of anguish of the days and bitterness of the crossing in this world will be equal the extent of abundance God prepared for us for our entrance into the kingdom of His beloved Son. In compensation for the affliction of these times and its sadness, crying and tears “God will wipe away every tear”2 from our eyes. In compensation for the suffering of these times there will be the happiness, joy and exultation of all the heavenly hosts as if we were entering a heavenly wedding where the Church, the group of believers, will be bedecked as a bride meeting her bridegroom, and all who believe are members glorified in the body of Christ, revealed in His glory with us hidden in Him, all glorifying God in one voice.

We will no more be sad, cry or sigh but will enjoy the light of Christ and of the saints in continuous happiness and unceasing joy. For that reason St Peter’s revelation was the expression of the extent of joy that will enfold us there in compensation for the anguish and suffering of this age during its few and hard days.

We do not on our part strive to enter the Kingdom of our Lord3 for it is out of God’s mercy and wealth in glory that entry will be offered us, as if the Father is offering His house to us, greeting us, and washing away every tear from our eyes, donning us with crowns considering us priests and kings to the living God. Matters unworthy to be discussed while we are in the humiliation of this age wearing our old bodies, ashamed to look above because of our smallness due to the previous sins we made unknowingly and in ignorance. But we thank God that we were washed, sanctified, and justified through the blood of Christ and the Spirit of our God4, prepared to enter the highest of holies with the blood of Christ upon us, becoming amply qualified for eternal life.

Thus the Apostle Peter offers us his great golden verse: “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.”5

July 2, 2005

1 2Tim 1:10.

2 Rev 7:17.

3 Cf Rom 9:16, 30.

4 Cf 1Cor 6:11.

5 2Pet 1:10.

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