I think of Salvation as a spiritual transaction. Positionally we are placed “in Christ.” Old things have passed away, all things have become new. There is an exchange. While we are still in the world … we are not of it. Our citizenship is of a higher place. We are now building treasures in heaven. Eternity has begun for us…
While most of us don’t tune in, the truth is, the spiritual realm is more real than the physical… which calls for a new mind set… a new perspective. It calls for an eternal perspective.
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3 NASB
We are renewing our minds… “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV
We are resisting thinking like the world thinks. We want to adopt the way Heaven thinks. “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8 NASB
A couple years ago I kept getting a mental picture of a target. This was during the time that God was beginning to give me new insight into the state of my own mindset. This is what I believe the target means. The center, or bullseye represents me. The first concentric circle next to the bullseye represents the physical world that I live in. The circle beyond that represents the spiritual realm, or eternity. With this in mind, I believe we are to be looking beyond our earthly situations and circumstances (first circle), to what’s happening in the spiritual realm (second circle). That is now our focus.
Do you remember when Jesus informed the disciples about his impending death, and Peter rebuked him? Then Jesus looked at Peter and said, “get behind me Satan.” Was Jesus addressing Peter, or was he addressing the spiritual influence behind Peter? I believe Jesus was looking beyond Peter to the spiritual influence behind him and addressing that. I believe this is an example that relates to what I’m saying. We’re looking beyond what’s happening in the physical and we are acknowledging and addressing what is true in the spiritual realm.
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NASB
While the nature and character of the world around us seems to change drastically at times as we experience the challenges of life, Heaven doesn’t change. When we maintain an eternal perspective… a heavenly mindset… and we see things from Heaven’s perspective, we can experience an unexplainable calm in the midst of our earthly storms. We are acquiring God’s point of view of our circumstances.
As we gain insight into what’s true in Heaven about our earthly issues, we are then in a better position to pray as Jesus taught… “Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” With our prayers we are calling down the conditions of Heaven into earth, with a discerning eye into what that means.
So, how can I cultivate a more keen understanding of the spiritual realm and what is true there regarding my circumstances? I believe this flows out of intimacy with God.
How can I cultivate intimacy with God and therefore increase my awareness of the spiritual realm?
These are things I believe draw us more into that place… (I included these in an earlier post).
We enter His gates (presence) with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Ps 100:4
We renew our minds with the Word of God. Romans 12:2.
By practicing the presence of God.
Pursue child likeness… (a sense of wonder) Matthew 18:3.
Recognizing my “old nature” as being dead and embracing my new nature… 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit and yielding to His influence…
Maintain a posture of worship.
Sit before God and listen.
Ask God, what His perspective is on a circumstance. Ask…How does this look from God’s vantage point? What are Gods thoughts about this? What are God’s purposes?
What is God up to? How can I cooperate with him?
Conduct an ongoing conversation with God – pray without ceasing.
Take every thought captive…
Turn worry into prayer.
Confession of sin – Keeping short accounts with God.
May we all posture ourselves to pursue more intimacy with God and grow to a deeper understanding of what’s true in the spiritual realm, and in doing so acquire an eternal perspective on our earthly circumstances. May it be so.
David Hallum 