Acts 8:14-24 – The Kingdom Isn’t for Sale

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Don’t you think for a second that coins and pieces of paper will get you into the kingdom of heaven.

Today’s devotional reading: Acts 8:14-24

There is only one way to enter the kingdom of heaven. In John 14:6, Jesus told the apostles that no one can come to the Father except through Him. This is to say that one must believe in the only begotten Son and that His shed blood washes away one’s sins. This is to say that one follows Christ along the narrow way that leads to the kingdom of God. As Christ told Nicodemus, whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life.

If you try to enter the kingdom of heaven by your own merits, you will fall short. God sees the righteousness of mankind as an unclean thing; it is as a filthy rag (Is. 64:6). If you come before the Lord in your own self-righteousness, never having turned to Christ, you will disgust the Lord and be cast from His presence.

If you try to enter the kingdom of heaven by purchasing a ticket to the kingdom with all of your wealth, your wealth will fall short. The kingdom of heaven is not for sale. Do you really think the kingdom can be purchased with coins and pieces of paper? Is not the kingdom of heaven worth more than coins and pieces of paper?

The kingdom of heaven is so great that God gave the world His only begotten Son so that you may have part in it. To have part in the kingdom, you must put away your self-righteousness and humble yourself. To have part in the kingdom, you must put away the worldly mindset and live for the kingdom faithfully, obediently, and with grace in your heart. Faithful living is what leads to everlasting life.