I would like to tell you about my first Visit to the Kingdom of God. So, just sit back, relax, and let me describe my visit.

1. THE WEALTH OF THE KINGDOM.

One of the first things you notice when you visit the Kingdom of God is the Sheer Wealth of the Kingdom! Its so amazing that it hard to know where to begin.

[a] Buildings.

There's one building there - they call it the "New Jerusalem" - that's really out of this world! Its not finished yet, but when it is, its going to be Huge. I tried to see the top of it even now, but it just keeps going up and up and up. They told me when its finished its going to be about 2,200 kilometres high! Can you believe that! I thought I'd walk round it - but I gave up after a couple of kilometres - it just went on and on. They say its going to be 2,200 kilometres square too when its finished! And you ought to see the foundations and walls of this New City. The foundations were decorated with every kind of precious stone - Every kind of jewel is worked into it. And the Wall itself was made of Jasper - and the city itself of Pure Gold. It was truly amazing.

[b] Apartments.

And then there's lots of Apartments being built. I shouldn't say apartments - that gives the wrong impression altogether. They're really Mansions - thousands and thousands of them - all under construction. And are they strict with what goes into them! The King is building them for his subjects - and he says they've got to be the very best. Of course, in this Kingdom, nobody does sloppy work - so you can just image what they're like - the very last word in comfort and convenience and excellence. Incidentally, no one does any work in the Kingdom of God on Sunday. They say it’s against the Rules of the King.

[c] Public Works.

And then of course there's the Department of Public Works! Do you know what they're doing in the Kingdom of God? There's so much wealth that they're paving the streets with gold! Can you imagine that! I felt really ashamed when they asked me what we used to cover our own streets. They felt sorry for me when I told them and tried to cover up my embarrassment.

[d] The King's Wealth.

I said to one of the citizens there that the King must be very wealthy to be able to do all this. I soon realised that's not the sort of question you ask anybody in the Kingdom of God! He just went on and on and on and on. The King, he said, owned all the cattle and sheep - in fact all the animals and birds; all the cane farms, dairy farms, wheat farms, and cattle stations. I asked about any Real Estate in the Cities - and off he went again - he owned Sydney Harbour, the CBD, and everything else. I asked if he had any Offshore Investments - and off he went again - New York, London; Berlin, Moscow. In the end I said to him - a bit sarcastically, I'm afraid - "Is there anything your king doesn't own? And he looked me straight in the eye, and said, No there isn't! "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." [Psalm 24:1]

2. THE WELFARE OF ITS PEOPLE.

By this time I was quite flabbergasted. I thought to myself, if the King owns everything, and keeps such a tight rein on everything, there must be some very miserable, complaining people about! So I decided to talk to some of them about Life in the Kingdom of God. And once again I must confess I was amazed at what I found out. They all seemed to be very happy with the way things were - and contented in themselves.

[a] Their Covenant.

I said to one of them, Surely all this joy I see about - that must be superficial. What about the things you've done wrong in your life - and all the mistakes you've made. Don't you feel guilty, and afraid. I've heard the King is very strict about things! And do you know what happened? They started to tell me about this Wonderful Arrangement the King had entered into with them - they call it a "Covenant" in the Kingdom of God - whereby the King, entirely by Himself, had undertaken to take away all their sins, and never remember them anymore! I said to him: Does this mean that everything wrong you've ever done has been forgiven? Yes, he said, that's the terms of the Covenant: "I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." But, I said, how could this? And he proceeded to tell me a most amazing story - of how the King Himself took their sins on Himself, and died in their place on the Cross to pay the penalty for them. So, he said, there can be no more guilt for us because our king has dealt with every last one of our sins.

[b] Their Advocate.

Ah! But I said, that might deal with past sins. What about if you do something wrong now. Won't you get put in prison - or even put out of the Kingdom. No, he replied. The King's made provision for that too! You see, he said, the King is also a Lawyer - an Advocate. He represents us, and pleads our case on the basis of what He's already done. Well, I said, back in my country, an Advocate costs a small fortune. It must cost you a fortune to have him! No, he said. All these things are free here. There's no charge - and we get a good result every time!

[c] Their Keeper.

I decided to try a different tack. I said, Aren't you worried about anything here in the Kingdom of God at all? No, he replied. We're not worried here simply because our King has told us not to be worried. He said we have no need to worry. He's Promised to care for us. In fact, He says he'll make everything work out so that it's for our benefit. And if we're concerned about anything, He's told us that his door is always open. We can go to him at any time about anything we need. And when you think about the Wealth he has, and the Love He has for us, why should we be worried? And besides, He's tremendously Wise, and we have the utmost confidence in the way he's running things!

[d] Their Love and Loyalty.

Inadvertently, at that point, I happened to say something about their King - just a silly offhand comment about the way He was running things, I think. Well, you should have seen the reaction I got! Those people certainly love their king. And when I say love I mean love. There's nothing - and I mean nothing - they wouldn't do for their King. Whatever He says, goes! And everybody's keen to do what He says, too! Nothing is too much trouble. In fact there're always meeting together to find out and talk about what the King wants them to do - and asking the King to come along and help them do so!

[e] Their Sadness.

There was only one thing I found they weren't happy about - and that was the fact that their King's rule wasn't complete - that there was still parts of their own lives, and parts of the world where His rule had not reached its completion. In fact, I found out that they were always presenting Petitions to the King's Father to make it complete. The prayer of their Petition went like this: "Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven".

3. THE GLORY OF ITS KING.

After seeing the Wealth of the Kingdom, and the Welfare of Its People, I decided I'd like at least to see the Palace of the King. I took one of their tours. I thought it would cost the earth - but to my surprise it was free. In fact that's the thing about the Kingdom of God. Everything is free: Free forgiveness; free legal fees; free assistance; free counsel; free welfare. Nothing seems to cost anything. The King really looks after his citizens!

[a] The Palace.

I got to the Palace - and once again - you can't believe the wealth of the place! The place was Massive - rich! But what surprised me most of all was the complete lack of security: No guards on the Gate, no TV cameras, nobody saying, What are you doing here? In fact no one bothered. Everybody trusted everybody, and went quietly about their business!

[b] The King.

While I was talking with the guide I saw a youngish, but very distinguished person, talking with a group of women and children - and even taking the children up in his arms. He seemed to be having a great time! I said to the guide: What's that man's Job: PR? He looked at me with a very odd look in his eye, and said, in a voice filled with pride and love: That's the King! "What!" I said - amazed that he'd made himself so freely available to all the visitors who came along! I'd scarcely got the words out of my mouth when he started waving - apparently to me! And when I went over he gave me such a great welcome - and even took me inside and showed me all the treasures of his House. And they were wonderful treasures - everything you'd ever need for time and for eternity. It was all there, ready to be given - not sold - to anyone who asked.

[c] The Father.

And then He said to me: You must meet My Father. Well, I've seen some Father-Son likenesses before - but this one beats them all. The Son was, as we say, the "spit image" of the Father. You couldn't get any two more alike. They spoke the same way, they did the same things - even thought the same way. And they had the same characteristics. And they obviously loved each other very much. And the surprising thing was, the King always deferred to His Father. You could see His Father meant everything to Him. After meeting them, I must say I have never met anyone more humble and kind, and generous, and gracious, and righteous and good than the King and His Father! When I came away from the Palace I understood now how the people loved him and why they would do anything for Him. No one in his right mind could help but love this king and His Father and want to be part of His Kingdom.

4. THE PRECIOUSNESS OF ITS POSSESSION.

When the time came to leave the Kingdom, and come back home, I was very, very sad. I wanted above all to be part of all this: part of this wonderful, glorious, gracious, kingdom of God; part of that wonderful community that had everything anybody could ever want; part of a kingdom that would be eternal and everlasting; and part of the King's Family to dwell with Him in His Father's House forever.

[a] Born Again?

On my way out, I said to the Receptionist: This is a wonderful place! I don't want to go back home! I want to stay here forever. He looked up at me very sharply - almost sternly - and said: "That's not possible". I said, why? Surely you must let ordinary people like me stay in this wonderful Kingdom? I live a good life. I wouldn't do anybody any harm! "No," he said. "The King has said it is only those who are born into it that stay in it. Here it is in the rule book of the Kingdom: "You must be born again". "No one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." [John 3:5-7]

[b] Believing in the Lord Jesus.

I don't mind telling you I wept when he said that. How could I get myself born again and become part of the Kingdom of God? And it was with a very heavy heart that I ended my visit to the Kingdom of God. As soon as I got home, I sent an E-mail to the Palace, asking if there was anyway - any way at all - I could become a member of the Kingdom of God. I said I'd do anything, anything at all - to obtain such a Treasure; such a Pearl, such a Life. And straightaway I got an E-mail back, saying: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life" If you truly believe on Him, you'd be a most welcome member of my Kingdom. You can't imagine the joy I felt. There and then I packed my bags, forgot about everything else, and left immediately for the Kingdom of God.

[c] Blessed Abundantly.

I had no trouble at Immigration - they even gave me a warm smile and a handshake-and stamped my passport "Born Again: Permanent Resident". I decided to go straight to the King, and try to thank Him for this wonderful privilege and blessing that he'd granted to such an unworthy person like me. As I got near the Palace, there was a great Party going on. I said to one person: What's the Party for? And do you know what He said? It’s for you! The King and His Father are so glad you've come home they want to celebrate. They've killed the fatted calf for you and they've got the best of everything laid out!

PS. The Kingdom of God is a treasure hidden in a field and a pearl of great price, which, when a person finds them, sells all he has, and buys them. Its possession is bound up in the possession of Christ. To have Him is to be in the Kingdom; to be without Him is to be outside the Kingdom. And the Day is Coming when everybody will realise the Preciousness of the Kingdom of God - and People will do their utmost to get into it. We need to realise now how valuable it is, and bring all that energy and effort that will be displayed then, into the present. If we don't there's the awful possibility that when it comes in its fullness and glory, we won't be in it.

- A Citizen of the Kingdom.