By Oyewole Sarumi

For many Christians, the concept of God’s Kingdom is often relegated to a future hope—a distant, ethereal destination we anticipate after this life. We speak of “going to heaven” and rightfully find comfort in the promise of an eternity with God. However, when Jesus began His public ministry, His central, earth-shattering announcement was not about a future escape plan.

It was a present-tense declaration: “The time has come,” he said. “The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). This “good news” (the Gospel) was not just that we could one day enter God’s Kingdom, but that God’s Kingdom, through Jesus Himself, was breaking into our world here and now.

This simple, profound truth changes everything. It reframes the Christian life from a mere waiting game into an active, vibrant participation in God’s reign today. To be a faithful Christian is to be a citizen of this heavenly Kingdom, and citizenship comes with its own distinct culture, its own set of values, and its own way of life. This is what we mean by a Kingdom lifestyle. It’s a way of living that reflects the reality of who our King is and what His rule looks like.

Living this way creates an inherent tension. We are citizens of heaven, yet we reside on earth. The Apostle Paul captures this beautifully, reminding us that we are to live as “foreigners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11) while also being called to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). We are not called to withdraw from the world in monastic seclusion, nor are we to be absorbed by it, indistinguishable from everyone else. Instead, we are called to be a counter-culture, a living, breathing demonstration of what life looks like when God is in charge.

This article is a deep dive into what it means to embody this Kingdom lifestyle. We will explore its biblical foundations, unpack its counter-cultural ethics, examine its practical expressions in our daily lives, and understand its ultimate, missional purpose. This is a journey from abstract theology to concrete, everyday reality—a call to live in such a way that our very lives become a signpost pointing to the goodness and glory of our King.

The Foundation: Understanding the Kingdom of God

Before we can live out a Kingdom lifestyle, we must first grasp what the “Kingdom of God” truly is. The term, used over 100 times in the New Testament, does not primarily refer to a geographical location. Instead, the Kingdom of God is God’s reign and rule. It is the sphere where His will is done, His purposes are accomplished, and His authority is recognised. As theologian Dallas Willard aptly put it, the Kingdom of God is the “range of God’s effective will.”

The “Now and Not Yet” Reality

A core theological concept for understanding the Kingdom is its “now and not yet” nature. When Jesus arrived, He inaugurated the Kingdom. Through His teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection, He demonstrated God’s power over sin, sickness, demons, and even death itself. The reign of God broke into human history in a new and powerful way. This is the “now” of the Kingdom. When we place our faith in Christ, we are transferred from the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). We can experience the blessings and realities of His rule—forgiveness, peace, joy, and the indwelling Holy Spirit—in the present.

However, we know instinctively that the world is not yet fully submitted to God’s will. We still see suffering, injustice, and brokenness. This is because the Kingdom is “not yet” here in its fullness. We live in the period of overlap between this present age and the age to come. We await the day when Christ will return to consummate His Kingdom, to wipe away every tear, and to make all things new (Revelation 21:4-5).

Living a Kingdom lifestyle means embracing this tension. We live as people of the future, bringing the values and realities of that future Kingdom into our present-day world. We are a colony of heaven on earth, offering our neighbours a glimpse of what life under God’s perfect reign looks like. I
The Manifesto of the Kingdom: The Sermon on the Mount

If we need a constitution or a manifesto for this Kingdom, Jesus provides it in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). This is arguably the most famous and most challenging sermon ever preached. It’s not a list of suggestions for self-improvement; it is a description of what life looks like for a citizen of heaven.

The Sermon opens with the Beatitudes, which are not a set of commands to follow but a series of declarations about who is “blessed” or fortunate in God’s Kingdom. As we will explore, these blessings turn the world’s value system entirely on its head. The rest of the sermon lays out the ethics of this Kingdom, addressing everything from anger, lust, and integrity to prayer, money, and anxiety. It presents a radical vision for a life of righteousness that flows not from external rule-keeping but from a transformed heart.

The Great Reversal: Embracing the Counter-Cultural Ethics of the Kingdom

A true Kingdom lifestyle is inherently counter-cultural. The values that drive the world are often in direct opposition to the values that define God’s reign. To follow Jesus is to participate in a “great reversal,” where the last are first, the humble are exalted, and weakness is the new strength.

The Upside-Down Values of the Beatitudes

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) serve as the perfect entry point into this upside-down world. Consider the contrast:

• The world says, “Blessed are the powerful, the assertive, the self-sufficient.” Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Kingdom life begins with recognising our profound spiritual bankruptcy and our total dependence on God. It is a posture of humility, not arrogance.
• The world says, “Blessed are those who have it all together, who avoid pain and suffering.” Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” This refers not just to mourning personal loss, but to a deep grief over the brokenness of the world and our own sin. It is a heart that is soft and compassionate, not calloused and indifferent.
• The world says, “Blessed are the strong, who take what they want.” Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control. It is a gentle and trusting spirit that does not need to grasp for power or control because it rests in God’s sovereignty.
• The world says, “Blessed are the satisfied, the comfortable.” Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.* Kingdom citizens have a deep, insatiable longing to see God’s righteousness prevail in their own lives and in the world around them.

This pattern continues with blessings for the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. In every case, the person who is “blessed” in God’s Kingdom is the one who is least impressive by the world’s standards. This is the significant reversal. To live a Kingdom lifestyle is to intentionally orient our lives around these heavenly values, even when it puts us at odds with the culture around us.

Practical Expressions: Where the Reign of God Meets Real Life

A Kingdom lifestyle is not an abstract ideal; it must be embodied in the practical, everyday details of our lives. It affects how we handle our money, how we treat our families, how we conduct ourselves at work, and how we engage with the needs of our society.

Stewardship: Managing God’s Resources

One of the most profound shifts in a Kingdom lifestyle is the move from an ownership mindset to a stewardship mindset. The Bible teaches that everything we have—our time, our talents, our money, and our possessions—ultimately belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). We are simply managers, or stewards, entrusted with these resources for a season.

This perspective revolutionises our relationship with money and possessions. Instead of asking, “How much of my money should I give to God?” the Kingdom citizen asks, “How much of God’s money should I keep for myself?” Money ceases to be a measure of our success or a source of our security and becomes a tool for advancing God’s purposes. We are called to be radically generous, to provide for our families, to invest in the local church, and to use our resources to care for the poor and vulnerable. Jesus warned sternly, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24), making it clear that our financial practices are a primary indicator of where our true allegiance lies.

Relationships: The Law of Love

When asked for the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39). Later, He gave His disciples a “new command”: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

The defining characteristic of Kingdom citizens is a radical, self-giving love. This love is the animating force behind all our relationships. It calls us to a life of forgiveness instead of bitterness, reconciliation instead of division, and humility instead of pride. Within the community of the church, it means bearing one another’s burdens, speaking the truth in love, and considering others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

This love extends even to our enemies. In one of the most challenging teachings in Scripture, Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45). This is a supernatural love, possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit, and it stands as one of the most distinctive and potent witnesses of the Kingdom of God.

Justice & Mercy: Reflecting the Heart of the King

A deep concern for justice and mercy is woven throughout the entire biblical narrative. The prophet Micah summarised God’s requirement for His people beautifully: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

A Kingdom lifestyle is therefore incompatible with apathy toward injustice and suffering. God is a God of justice who defends the cause of the fatherless, the widow, and the oppressed. As His citizens, we are called to reflect His heart. This is not about political affiliation but about a biblical mandate. It means using our voices to speak up for the voiceless, using our resources to help people experiencing poverty, and using our influence to push back against systems that exploit and oppress. It means practising both mercy (addressing the immediate needs of the suffering through charity and compassion) and justice (addressing the root causes of that suffering through advocacy and systemic change).

The Inner Life of a Kingdom Citizen

This radical, counter-cultural lifestyle is impossible to sustain through sheer willpower. It is not about behaviour modification; it is the result of a profound, inner transformation. A Kingdom lifestyle flows from a Kingdom heart, and a Kingdom heart is cultivated through intentional connection with the King.

This is where the classical spiritual disciplines become essential. Practices like prayer, Scripture meditation, solitude, fasting, and sabbath are not about earning God’s favour. They are, as Richard Foster wrote in his classic book Celebration of Discipline, the means by which we place ourselves before God so that He can transform us.

• Prayer is not just a list of requests but an ongoing conversation with our King, aligning our will with His.
• Reading Scripture is not just for information but for formation, allowing God’s Word to shape our worldview and renew our minds.
• Solitude and Silence quiet the noise of the world, allowing us to hear God’s voice more clearly.
• Fasting is a way of intentionally denying the flesh to heighten our spiritual sensitivity and declare our ultimate dependence on God.

Jesus Himself modelled this. The Gospels frequently show Him withdrawing to lonely places to pray, drawing strength from His Father before engaging in ministry. If Jesus needed these rhythms of connection, how much more do we? These practices cultivate the “fruit of the Spirit”—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not just admirable virtues; they are the very character traits of a citizen of heaven.

The Missional Purpose: Living as Ambassadors of the Kingdom

Finally, we must understand why God calls us to live this way. A Kingdom lifestyle is not just for our own spiritual benefit; it is a primary strategy for God’s mission in the world. We are living signposts, pointing people to the reality of a different and better King.

The Apostle Paul tells us, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador does not represent themselves; they represent their home country. They live and speak in a way that reflects the character and policies of their ruler. Our lives—the way we handle conflict, the way we use our money, our commitment to justice, our unwavering love—are meant to be God’s appeal to a watching world.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus concludes His opening declarations with a command: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Our distinctive lifestyle is not for our own glory.

It is meant to be so compelling, so beautiful, and so different that it causes people to look past us and give glory to the King who makes such a life possible. It is the most potent form of evangelism there is. When people see a community marked by radical love, joy, and peace in the midst of a fragmented and anxious world, they will inevitably ask, “Why are you like this?” And our answer will be the good news of Jesus and His Kingdom.

Conclusion

Embracing a Kingdom lifestyle is not about achieving perfection. It is a lifelong journey of apprenticeship to Jesus. It is about waking up each day and consciously choosing to submit our will, our thoughts, and our actions to the loving reign of our King. It is a path that requires humility, courage, and a deep dependence on the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

This is not a life of grim, legalistic duty. It is a life of profound joy and freedom. It is freedom from the tyranny of materialism, freedom from the bondage of bitterness, and freedom from the anxiety of self-reliance. It is the “easy yoke” and “light burden” that Jesus promised (Matthew 11:30), a way of living that aligns with the very grain of the universe as God designed it.

As citizens of heaven, we are called to be more than just believers; we are called to be disciples. We are called to embody the values of our King, to join Him in His work of renewal and restoration, and to live in such a way that our lives make the good news of His Kingdom plausible and attractive to a world that desperately needs it. This is our calling. This is our purpose. This is the adventure of a true Kingdom lifestyle.

The post Citizens of Heaven: A Practical Guide to Living a Kingdom Lifestyle in the 21st Century first appeared on Church Times Nigeria - News, features and more.