But something else is true of the Kingdom-oriented Christian. Each day of his pilgrimage he is pressing into Christ—into Christ's death and triumphant resurrection. He is seeking to attain, to arrive at, the first resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:11). He is being changed into the image of the Lord (II Corinthians 3:18).

What is the difference between these two attitudes toward the Christian life? The death-oriented believer perceives the spirit Paradise beyond the stars as being his or her eternal destiny. The resurrection from the dead is not supremely important. What is of supreme importance is getting to the heavenly home. Many of our best-loved hymns are written around this theme.

The Kingdom-oriented believer perceives perfect union with Christ as being his or her eternal destiny. The resurrection from the dead is of supreme importance because then his personality—body, soul, and spirit—will be whole again. He will be whole in Christ. He will be with and in Jesus forever, serving the Lord throughout the creation of God, but particularly in the earth because the inheritance of Jesus consists of the nations and the farthest reaches of the earth (Psalms 2:8).

The death-oriented Christian primarily is concerned with a change in location. The "Kingdom" Christian, while he also with great joy is awaiting the coming of the Lord or going to Heaven, whichever comes first, is concerned with gaining an ever-increasing grasp on the fellowship of Christ's sufferings and the power of Christ's resurrection.

The reason the "Kingdom" Christian is so concerned with coming to know Christ in a greater way is that God has placed in his heart a love for the Lord and also a love for the nations that are Christ's inheritance. He begins to share in the awesome love that God has for those people whom He has created.

The Kingdom-oriented Christian is becoming aware, from the writings of the Prophets of Israel and also from the present-day burden of the Holy Spirit, of the wonderful plan that God has for the release, the conversion, and teaching of the nations of the earth—for the removing of all sin and unrighteousness from the world.

The Millennium is becoming real to the Kingdom-oriented Christian. The Millennium (thousand-year Kingdom Age) is the coming of the Lord Jesus to assume the rulership of the world. The coming of Christ in His Kingdom is near at hand!—at the door! This is the Good News that is to be preached to every man, woman, boy, and girl on the face of the earth, accompanied by signs and wonders of the Spirit.

Because the Kingdom of God is at hand, at the door, people are to repent of their unrighteous behavior, being baptized in water and confessing Christ as Lord and Savior. To be saved means to be kept from Divine wrath when the Lord Jesus returns to take control of the world.

The Kingdom-oriented Christian is being carefully trained and prepared every day of his life to bring Christ and His righteous government into the earth now, and in greatly increased measure when the Lord Jesus returns in glory with the saints and holy angels.

The death-oriented Christian hopes that he will go to Heaven rather than to Hell when he dies, or perhaps will escape from the problems of this wretched world by being carried up to Heaven. What happens to the nations of the world at that time is of little concern to him.

The Kingdom-oriented Christian is on the pathway of righteousness that shines more and more to the perfect day when righteousness will fill the whole earth.

To be continued.