The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven

Just in Reach

In Matthew four we are called to repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt 4:17). Soon after our Lord’s encounter with Lucifer, and His conversation with God, Christ begins to preach. I feel that His choice of subject is of great importance. It is after He had both been in the lowest of lows and highest of highs that He chooses to teach the people to repent. He knows how Satan works; He knows how he tries to bring us down every day. So Christ reminds us of the reason we must choose to withstand and overcome Satan in our lives. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He has so much in store for us, and it is all within our grasp. Mormons are often accused with following the gospel in blind obedience. President Boyd K. Packer explains that “We are not obedient because we are blind, but we are obedient because we can see.” He has given us everything. Through the atonement we have been given the chance to overcome all evil, and become like our Savior through repentance. If we could truly see all that we are being offered, that the kingdom of heaven is within our reach, how could we choose anything other than His path? “It’s true isn’t it? Then what else matters?” (President Gordon B. Hinckley). When reading Matthew 4:17 I came to a clearer understanding of this principle. I recognized that Heavenly Father gave us His son. He gave us His only begotten, who offers all that His Father, and our Father has. We are being given everything. I hope to be strong enough to choose His path. I hope to follow His counsel, and repent. I hope to follow His example and learn to overcome Satan, and His temptations. I hope that each day I will be able to recognize how close the Kingdom of Heaven truly is. I hope to reach my potential.