Queen Victoria of England died on this day in 1901 after reigning for nearly 64 years. Edward VII, her son, succeeded her.

Imagine living in a country in which only one ruler had ever been in power. When Queen Victoria died at age 82, it marked the end of an era in which most of her British subjects had known no other king or queen. Her reign, which spanned more than half a century, was the longest in British history.

Having one ruler who governs you for the majority of your life is a strange concept for most of us. We are used to changes in those who govern us and make the laws. We are familiar with presidents and governors and mayors, not kings or queens or princes.

Yet, do you realize you are part of a kingdom that will never end, and you are under the power of a king who will always rule? As a Christian, you are part of God’s kingdom, and Jesus is your king who will reign forever and forever.

What exactly is God’s kingdom? The Bible tells us. First, the kingdom of God is not a place. Jesus told his followers, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20,21). The kingdom of God was not the powerful government that the people of Israel were looking for. No, the kingdom of God is the rule of God in his people’s hearts. Wherever God’s people are living and obeying his Word, then that’s where the kingdom of God exists. Wherever you go and whenever you share the Good News of Jesus, you are spreading God’s kingdom.

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

To Do

Be a kingdom builder today. Tell one person who lives in your house or goes to you school about your King.

Also on this day . . .

1879—James Shields began a term as a U.S. Senator from Missouri. He had previously served in Illinois and Minnesota—making him the first Senator to serve in three different states.

1984—Apple introduced the Macintosh computer. It was the first computer to use point-and-click technology.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.