Living Between Kingdoms

There's a moment in every great story where the hero is yanked out of one world and thrown into another. Neo wakes up in the Matrix. Frodo leaves the Shire. Katniss steps into the arena. These are not casual transitions; they are total transfers. Not upgrades, but overhauls. And that's exactly what Colossians 1:13 is all about.

"For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves."

You might read that and think, "That's a spiritual verse." Yes, it is. But it's also a blueprint for how we live, lead, and show up in the world, especially in the boardroom, the home, and the quiet wrestlings of our hearts.

Let's unpack it as if your purpose depends on it.

You Weren't Just Improved, You Were Relocated

Most of us spend our lives trying to become "better." Better leaders. Better spouses. Better versions of ourselves. And there's nothing wrong with that… except when we forget the gospel doesn't make us better, it makes us new. Colossians 1:13 doesn't say God patched us up or improved our darkness. It says He rescued us. And then transferred us.

Imagine a company acquisition where everything changes, leadership, culture, mission, and even the location of your desk. That's what God did with your soul. He didn't just clean your cubicle. He moved your entire existence into a new operating system, one ruled not by fear or performance, but by love and freedom.

This truth cuts through the noise of hustle culture. It means your worth doesn't come from your output. You don't belong to the kingdom of "earn more, prove more, be more." You belong to the kingdom of the Beloved Son. That changes the questions you ask. Not, "Am I successful?" but, "Am I surrendered?" Not, "Do they see me?" but, "Am I reflecting Him?"

Darkness Still Calls Your Name, But You Don't Have to Answer

Now let's be real. Just because you've been transferred doesn't mean the old dominion goes quiet. It still calls. It still tempts. It still lies. The voice of darkness whispers through your calendar, your inbox, your self-talk.

You're falling behind. You'll never be enough. Just one compromise won't matter.

But here's the tension, and the invitation. You may still live in a world where darkness lingers, but you no longer live under its rule. You are not obligated to obey what no longer owns you.

This isn't passive. It's warfare. You wake up every day with a choice: Which kingdom will shape how I speak, how I lead, how I respond?

And make no mistake, the darkness doesn't mind if you look spiritual while staying functionally enslaved. That's why Paul doesn't just say "rescue", he says "transfer." This is identity-level, soul-deep redefinition. Not just new behaviors, but a new being.

Kingdom Thinking in Business Strategy

Let's talk shop for a minute. What does all this have to do with business?

Everything.

Because if you don't know what kingdom you're building from, you'll default to building for the wrong one. You'll chase growth for the sake of ego. You'll treat people like pawns instead of image-bearers. You'll define success by profit, not purpose.

But if you've been transferred, if you truly live under the reign of Christ, you lead differently. You serve instead of manipulating. You cast vision with humility. You delegate with trust. You create systems where people thrive, not just perform.

Kingdom leadership is legacy leadership.

It asks: Are we creating impact that echoes into eternity? Are we building cultures of light where truth, grace, and excellence coexist? Are we more interested in God's glory than our LinkedIn accolades?

If not, we may be climbing ladders that lean against the wrong walls.

Your Role in the Rescue Mission

Paul wasn't just dropping theology in Colossians 1:13. He was equipping the church to live out their identity in a hostile world. He knew that being "transferred" meant you don't just exist in the new kingdom, you expand it.

And this is where things get uncomfortable.

Because we want the comfort of salvation without the cost of representation, but you are now an ambassador. A kingdom-carrier. A light-bearer in every room you walk into. You're not just "working in marketing" or "raising a family" or "building a brand." You are a strategic deployment of heaven into your sphere of influence.

You're not in transition. You're already transferred. Now act like it.

That means boldness with your story. Integrity in your contracts. Kindness in your meetings. It means being unshakably grounded in who you are so you don't sell your soul for applause, promotions, or temporary wins.

One Kingdom, One King, One Calling

Colossians 1:13 confronts us with a kingdom reality: we are either living under darkness or under Christ. There is no third option. The middle ground, where we nod at Jesus but live like orphans, is a lie.

So ask yourself:

• Where am I still letting darkness speak louder than the truth?
• What areas of my life or leadership need to come under new management?
• Who in my orbit needs to be invited into this kingdom of light?

Because here's the wild truth: God didn't just rescue you for you. He rescued you to become a rescuer. Your transformation is someone else's invitation.

Final Word: The Transfer Is Complete, Now Take Ownership

You've been transferred. Legally, spiritually, eternally.

Now it's time to own it.

Own your role in your business, not with pride, but with purpose. Own your identity in Christ, not just in private devotionals, but in public decisions. Own your mission, to bring more people out of the dominion of darkness and into the kingdom of the Son He loves.

Every Zoom call, every Slack message, and every strategic plan is an opportunity to live like someone who's already been rescued.

So take the transfer seriously. And lead like someone who knows exactly which kingdom they belong to.

That's where your real influence begins.

A Prayer for Living and Leading in the Light

Father,

Thank you for rescuing me, not just from sin, but from the weight of living under a kingdom that never gave me peace. Thank you for transferring me into the kingdom of Your Son, where love reigns, and identity is secure. Today, I want to live and lead from that place of truth.

Help me, Lord, when the old voices try to call me back into fear, striving, and self-doubt. Give me the wisdom to recognize what no longer owns me, and the courage to walk fully in what You've given me. Whether I'm leading a team or making dinner for my family, let my life reflect the light of Your kingdom.

Use my work, my words, and my witness to bring others closer to You. Let my leadership be bold, but rooted in humility. Let my decisions be wise, but always shaped by grace.

And when I forget who I am, remind me: I've already been transferred. I'm already Yours.

Amen.

Now take a moment to breathe, to listen, and to ask God where He wants to move through you today, in both heart and hustle.