The Kingdom of God: A Personal and Eternal Reality

Dallas Willard explores the concept of the Kingdom of God and its significance in our lives. He emphasizes that the Kingdom is not just a future eschatological event, but a present reality that has existed since the moment of creation and will never end. Willard argues that the Kingdom is the range of God's effective will, and it includes everything in creation. He asserts that humans were made to have their own kingdoms, their own sphere of influence, and exercise dominion in a limited capacity. However, due to the brokenness of humanity, our kingdoms are imperfect and often opposed to God's Kingdom. Willard highlights the importance of surrendering our will to God and aligning our little kingdoms with His Kingdom. He emphasizes that surrendering our will doesn't deplete it, unlike other tasks that require willpower. Willard also discusses the connection between personhood and the Kingdom, stating that having a will is what makes us moral agents and gives us unique dignity and worth. Overall, Willard challenges the traditional understanding of the Kingdom of God as a future event and presents it as a current and ongoing reality.