Jesus taught plainly that there are only two kinds of kingdom: the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light (see Jn 3:19, Eph 2:1-2). We cannot serve two masters (see Matt 6:24) and there is no option for neutrality (see Luke 11:23) or dual citizenship.
Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, came to Jesus one time to discuss this problem. Jesus told Nicodemus, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ (Jn 3:3) He went on to say, ‘no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit’ (Jn 3:6) and concluded, ‘‘You must be born again.’ (Jn 3:7)
We enter God’s kingdom through a second birth. Nicodemus knew all about natural birth; he asked Jesus, ‘How can someone be born when they are old? Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ (Jn 3:4) Jesus told him that this second birth needed to enter God’s kingdom was not a literal, physical birth, but a spiritual birth. Earlier, John has told us, ‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.’ (Jn 1:12-13) We enter the kingdom of God as God’s children, born of God, a spiritual birth, just as children are born to a king or queen and then are part of the Royal Family through their birth. We enter God’s kingdom by believing in Jesus who ‘has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.’ (Col 1:13-14) We are transferred from one kingdom, the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of light when we believe that Jesus died for us, when we acknowledge that we have sinned and can’t save ourselves, when we accept the authority of Jesus over our lives and acknowledge Him as king.
For those of us who have never accepted Christ’s authority and rule, the only way we can see and enter the kingdom of God is by receiving Christ as Lord and Saviour. For those of us who live as children of the king, the challenge is to live as His children, reflecting His values, showing His kindness, loving other people the way He loves us so that we may show people what the kingdom of God really looks like. Just as natural labour is not easy, so we must be prepared to wrestle in prayer for people to receive that second birth, praying for our family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances until they are born again and transferred from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of God.