As a Christian, I often talk about God’s blessings and the wonderful things He’s done for our family. I’m not ashamed of His goodness to us and I love to share it.
But at times, I’ve been told I live in another world—not reality! When someone dear to me accused me of this, I was upset. After some real soul-searching about my life and how God has led me over the years, I decided: They’re right! I DO live in another world!!
It’s a world where there’s hope, love, peace, assurance and goodness in EVERY situation—a world where Father, Son and Holy Spirit are my best friends and care about what happens in my world.
It’s not always sunshine and roses. I have issues in my world too, but the outcome is always to my benefit, and the peace I have leaning on God is worth more than anything!
On one hand, with all our traditions and reasoning, we’ve separated “God” or “church” from our everyday lives. We’ve been taught and demonstrated that church is “spiritual” and that “spiritual stuff” only happens in certain places—special buildings or gatherings on Sundays.
We’re taught there is certain behavior that goes along with these times and if we don’t conform to that, we are “upsetting God” and limiting His favor in our lives. Many times, the joy is gone from these meetings and evaporates when “spiritual people” visit our homes, parties and picnics.
On the other hand, we have “real life” involving things like windsurfing, snowboarding, picnics, fishing, movies, biking, motorcycles, sports or whatever is fun with family and friends. Through the years, we’ve somehow been taught that this life is “outside” church, God or spirituality.
But shouldn’t everything that pertains to my life involve God? He is the creator, not me. It’s HIS life IN me that gives me passion and love for things. Why then would I want to separate myself into compartments?
It doesn’t make sense, but that’s what we try to do. We separate our lives into “real life” and “spiritual” segments, and then we can’t understand why we feel disjointed and unhappy.
I heard a preacher call this full, complete life in God “The Great Dance” and I love the idea. The illustration he used was Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in a circle, living in absolute harmony and peace, full of happiness and goodness.
Then they decided to share this wonderful, all-encompassing LIFE with man and creation. Jesus was the “gate” by which this life was shared with mankind.
In the dance, they opened their arms and said, “Come, share and enjoy life with us. Enjoy our life, your existence and being part of a precious family!” What pleasure God took in making this happen!
Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he (God) had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love…he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. —Ephesians 1:4 (MSG)
This was God’s plan from the foundation of the world. It’s not a repair job because someone messed up. Father, Son and Holy Spirit wanted us to share in THEIR life from the very beginning. And it’s easy to take hold of and believe we are part of this wonderful, amazing family. Knowing that we belong gives us an awesome sense of self-worth and a feeling of acceptance.
Let’s take this message to everyone. No one has been left out or excluded. Telling someone good newsmakes them feel valuable and wanted and they begin to change into the person they are declared to be!
News is something that has happened already! Good news sets us FREE to be alive, happy, and enjoy every aspect of life. We can rest, knowing we’re not under investigation and that God is part of what we are doing all the time.
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. —Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC)
Let the Great Awakening to His love start with YOU. Your world and your everyday situations need this awakening to the love and life the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have prepared for you!
Blessings,
Arthur
