What does it mean to be 'close to the kingdom of God'?

To be 'close to the kingdom of God' implies having an intellectual understanding of spiritual truths without experiencing the heart transformation that leads to genuine faith in Christ. In Mark 12:34, Jesus tells the scribe that he is not far from the kingdom, indicating that while the man understood significant truths about loving God, he still lacked faith in the person of Christ as his Savior. This condition can be perilous, as it is possible to possess a head knowledge of God’s word yet remain unconverted. The call for believers is to go beyond mere knowledge to a heart-response characterized by love and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as the only means of true entrance into the kingdom of God.