Take It By Force

… the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
(Mat 11:12)

John the Baptist came on the scene and met a need that the people had. He challenged the status quo.  He preached a raw message sent from God that was to prepare the people for Jesus. As a result “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

For a long time I didn’t know what to make of that verse. The Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence – doesn’t sound on first hearing like a good thing.  …and the violent take it by force.  Maybe the problem we have with this is this language not interpeting right to us.

Maybe it would make more sense as the kingdom of heaven is buffeted from all sides by those desiring to taste of it.  And the desperate, the called, the needy – those not willing to let anything stand between the reality of God and them, those not content to listen to mere words from men that talk without any hint of God’s true presence – those people will do anything to see and walk out what God is saying.