Holding on to the past is like gravity, it presses us toward the earth. The future, looking outward in anticipation, is like stepping from a precipice into thin air, no foundation so we flail about. The now is all we have, but even that is quite precarious and mailable without strong columns to hold us in place. We may find ourselves at our destination in the present, but without a home, no defined place to lay our head. It is only normal for us to wish to gather before the hearth to enjoy the comfort we so desire. But to find our house on solid ground we must grasp and maintain a true value to our existence in the now. The world offers much to cleave onto no doubt: but for the Christian, can it offer that which is required for a firm foundation? For solidity we will need confidence or recognition that we have arrived, or at least are entering into the place we have been called to. Of course if this call is not headed and founded in the power of God's will for the believer; which is the formation of Christ in our mind and spirit, by the understanding of His Word in faith, then the world holds out its wide net and we may become captured. The religious as well as the secular world is always seeking to destroy our individuality, which is given in grace by God to us. We now have an identity in His Son, presented by God in the new creation, which we have become in Christ. The natural worldly process operates by imposing a conformation to its ways; turning its victims into mere faceless by standers with no shelter, often so slowly and naturally they are taken unawares.
In order to know ones calling and identity, to gain the hope of firm attachment to a value which is beyond ourselves, yet available to all; that of Christ Jesus, we must become aware of who and what we are to begin with: a starting point, a established identity. We have a heritage and a destiny to be conformed not to the world, religious or otherwise, but to His image. Not at the loss of our individuality or our personality, but by the gain of His nature and His character, a transformation into the new man self identified in Christ. "I in you" John 15:4; "Christ lives in me" Gal:2:20. Here is how the bible further defines us: "we are no more strangers and sojourners [in The Fathers presence], but fellow citizens [of heaven, a spiritual condition] with the saints,[living and dead] and of the household of God [which is in Spirit by faith,] and we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone" Eph. 2:19,20. This my friends is the solid place of residence where all Christians dwell knowingly or not. It is true that we can take joy in these words. However the question Christians must all ask themselves, and are encouraged to find the answer to by The Father in His Word is: is this a description of a nature that is internally yours? Do we even contemplate such a possibility as present in Christ, in union with His Spirit, as a real condition of ourselves as a believer? Is our life in, for and about knowing our self in the interior of the soul, Christ and only Christ, citizens of heaven positioned with Him? Are we engaged in a constant search for the meaning of the proclamation of God's Word, Christ the foundation, our infusion into His Son The cornerstone? For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God' Col. 3:3, proclaims The Word. What does that mean to us?
In my observation much of Christianity in this day, is walking upon a weak definition of its internal foundation which does not encourage growth of individuality in spirit by its own self centered nature, the chief cornerstone covered by works; the goal appears to be to produce many participants, observers and workers. The principal of spiritual growth has a objective side and a subjective component which must be maintained in balance to avoid falling into the trap of the domination of experience, becoming part of a programed gathered crowd. There is something which must be done in us as well as for us to avoid this trap. We all should know what has been done for us; Christ suffered and died to make us His own for all eternity. After and by this the greatest sacrifice the world has ever known, the Church we all enjoy so much was begun. It was built upon the blood of Jesus Christ and the apostles, not to mention the host of martyrs throughout the ages; a foundation of blood and death for the purpose of bringing a people to become His very Body, His image, which seems forgotten. I liken much of today's institutional Church environment to the contemporary American comfort zone we have all come to see as normal, and rest in. We are always expecting more and much incitement is in the offering, a plethora of activity; while the powers which surround us, often with good intent whittle away the freedoms and privilege others died to give. We have little concept of a defined individuality and enlightened self interest toward a purpose with lasting true value. Which was the attitude that built the place we so enjoy, by our forefathers sacrifice. We are now offered, both by the world and much of institutional Christianity what the old Roman empire presented to its pacified softened populace, bread and circus or a sense of security/comfort and entertainment. Yes I know The Father will still uses all this for His purpose and in this we can take heart, and most modern Church's as well as our government do much good and people are saved, and helped. But what remains a vacancy for The Church is to challenge the body subjectively to open its mind to the reality of Christ as life, a union with Him and identity in Him as our condition of active existence. He The Object of our life. Making us a peculiar people when observed by the world. We must be held accountable by The Church, but also by our own self motivation to carry this banner at all times in out minds and hearts, seeking spiritual growth as the all important ingredient. We must come to know that our spiritual freedom comes through a bondage, a obedience of faith to Christ as life, moment by moment, every waking hour. And the life we have now in the present, must be defined through the application of His death to everything we are in the flesh, including the worthlessness of all that we have as priority in the natural world. All else without a quest for the individually of the Spirit which only a known position in Christ can supply, while perhaps important in the temporary condition we find ourselves in, and might even serve a uplifting roll by adding service, duty, works, even a sense of belonging, is mere dross.
Paul said to the Philippians, after explaining to them the many attributes of Jesus and His sacrifice for them, and the position Jesus Holds and the identity we acquired by that position, that every knee would bow to Him. That it was by these realizations they should "work out their salvation with fear and trembling" Phil. 2:12. It is no different for us. A word came to my mind recently that I believe fits this thought very well, "synergy". Meaning: the interaction or cooperation of two substance's or agents to provide a combined effect greater than would be provided by only one. In a very practical way Jesus needs us, oh yes He is sovereign no doubt, but that being said, we were destined to be His Body before the foundation of the world. We are to carry out His life on earth in spirit-soul-personality and internal self concept by a renewed mind living out His Resurrection. That means we must challenge even Him to become all that The Father intends. He becoming fully formed in us to produce God's purpose. Of course we in turn desperately need His Spirit to come to the required formation in our mind by faith; to meet His destiny. Him established on the earth in us in full acceptance by The Father, not in the flesh by works. But in the mental image [His image] we gain in the understand of our reason for being. It is by and in that quality we may take the action we are destined to in serving Him. We must come to know we are not being used by Him as mere agents. No we are Him, His Body; by The Spirit in us. It is by His glorified human body, in the same form/shape as ours, but now in heaven in complete accord with The Father that this is made true. He is the representative and eternal life reality of us here by Spirit and there by His person. We are by His presence at the right hand of The Father made justified and able to be His life here by the regenerated mind given us by The Holy Spirit of this, the true truth for all believers which is Internally yours.
It truly saddens my heart to write this blog at times, as my experience in the last year or so in attempting to convey the positional truth reality has resulted in, it seems, little to no interest even in those closest to me. But I am not alone in heart break, and I will not give up hope. I will end with a quote from my mentor long dead. "It is a marvelous grace that we should be conformed to the image of God's Son. I think it is very sad that the highest thought which God has about us, and that which His heart is so set on, is that which is least known by Christians; for I know no truth that is so little realized as union with Christ" J. B. Stoney.
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