ARE YOU REALLY LIVING?

 

ARE YOU REALLY LIVING?

“In Him (Jesus) was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.”
Do we live in the light or in darkness? Are our eyes enlightened to see the Gospel clearly and to understand the ways of God and the Word of God? Jesus came to this earth as the very expression of God because He was and is God. He showed us what God is like. And He made a way for us to live in the kingdom of God. His Light clearly shows us the ways of God so we can avoid stumbling over the obstacles of this world that may be in our path. His Light opens our minds and hearts to what is true. It causes us to understand and be wise, not only in the wisdom of this world, but in the spiritual wisdom of God.

Jesus, the Light, pulls back the curtain and allows us a glimpse into His kingdom, a higher dimension than we can see with our earthly eyes. Then He invites us to enter into that kingdom by being born again spiritually. This new birth changes our nature from a sin nature to a godly nature, making us righteous in God’s eyes and worthy to enter in. This Light comes to those who choose to surrender their lives to Jesus and follow Him.

         When we are wrapped up in the things of this world, we are blind to the kingdom of God. When our minds are centered on this world, we shut out the Light of God. Only His light can give us insight into spiritual knowledge. Have we been tripping over the things of this world at the expense of missing out on what God has for us because we are walking in darkness? Where is our focus? What holds our attention and consumes the majority of our time? Is it our zeal and determination to accomplish our own will or a determination to follow God’s will? What kingdom are we living in? If we are thinking, “There must be more to life than this,”, then we are probably residents of the wrong kingdom. This world will leave us empty, but the light of God will fill us with the presence of His Holy Spirit.

         The kingdom of darkness is Satan’s kingdom where he keeps us from the light. His kingdom has no eternal purpose except to doom us to the same fate of eternal darkness to which he will be condemned. He blinds our eyes to the Truth, causing us to seek our own purpose in this world. There is no satisfaction there. There is no light there. There is no way to understand the truth there. The truth is kept from all those who live in the kingdom of darkness, Satan’s kingdom. Only in the kingdom of God will we find truth, light and life. We can constantly be growing and learning the deeper things of the Spirit of God, but that is a choice each of us must make for ourselves. Once we are enlightened to the things of God’s kingdom, we see that it is teeming with life and is constantly in motion, not just physically but spiritually. It isn’t motion that drains us of strength. Rather, it infuses us with His power and strength. It’s not a futile busyness that wearies us, but life that is powerful and increasing our strength. That’s what I remember so vividly from the night I was born again into the kingdom of God. There was a surge of new life. Ephesians 2:1-3 says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

John 1 explains to us how we can receive and live in this overcoming Life; How we can have His life operative in us every day.

He says, “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]. But to as many as received Him, to as many as believed on His name, He gave the power to become the sons of God.” [Amplified Bible]

The Word is Jesus Christ, the expression of God. He came in human flesh to show us God and to invite us to enter into His Light. He opened the way for us to be able to live in God’s kingdom. But we have a part to play. It is our choice whether or not we will put it into action and enter into His Light, receiving His Light and Life in us. We can’t just say we want to walk in the light; we must appropriate it into our lives…make room for it, take possession of it for ourselves. Then we can live in a state of action and power in the kingdom of God, full of His Spirit. To as many as receive Him, He gives them the power to become the sons of God. It belongs to those who are born again of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Jesus has made it possible for us to have this life now. He offers us this hope, but we have to choose it for ourselves. Hope is “the feeling that what is wanted can be had. It is to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence;” to believe, desire, or trust. We can believe and be confident that we can enter the kingdom of God. “We can trust what He tells us. The Light is there. Jesus has made it available to all, but it is up to us to make the personal choice to receive it.

 

“But to as many as received Him, to as many as believed on His name, He gave the power to become the sons of God.”

Believe and receive Him today.