How Close are YOU to The Kingdom of God?

Mark 12:28-34 NLT
  28  One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 
  29  Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
  32  The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other.  33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” 
  34  Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”. . .
How close was the man, since Jesus said he was 'not far from the Kingdom of God? Is it important just to be close to the Lord's Kingdom or should one be within it. Jesus had said elsewhere that The Kingdom of God was present then and is in those who believe. Since this man was 'not far' does that mean his beliefs were only partial.

How often do we, as Christ followers stand close but not within The Kingdom of God. Does our life reflect our citizenship in that great Kingdom? Do we reflect the nature of Him who sacrificed all to remake us into His image and nature? What goals do we pursue with our whole being? Are those goals of the Kingdom or of self? How close are you today to the Kingdom of God

Your Servant in Christ's love
Dan
drdanelliott@gmail.com