A New Perspective (2)

Previously we touched on how to live practical holy lives through the Grace of God, through Jesus who lives in us. We saw that our only way to a holy life was to ‘see’ that it is Christ, the Holy One, who is holiness in us. Holiness isn’t something we are able to work in ourselves, even the Law we could not keep. Furthermore, it doesn’t make sense to want to work towards something which we have already received as a gift. Christ in us is everything needed for us to be what God intended us to be! So, you may ask: “How does this actually work? On a practical level, what do I do now?” All that remains for us to do is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in us to keep on revealing Christ to us, who is the Truth of our lives. This doesn’t imply that we may do whatever we want. The Roman church was stuck at the same spot, and Paul said the following:

Romans 6:14-18 “For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God's favor and mercy]. (15) What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we live not under Law but under God's favor and mercy? Certainly not! (16) Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)? (17) But thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. (18) And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action).”

The more we come to know Him, to see and understand our union with Him, the more we will want to read our Bibles and spend time in prayer. Now we find ourselves no longer interested in sinning, but with the desire to be what God had made us to be! According to the Psalmist (Ps 139:14) we are wonderfully made and we are marvelous in His eyes! This is why God placed us in His Son (the illustration of the vine) – so that we may be what He intended us to be; perfect and without blame! And because we now are in the Son, our perspective has completely changed and we are no longer ‘dust-conscious’, but Christ-conscious! Naturally we will now look at others in a completely different way, which also applies to the way we see our ‘enemies’. When we speak about enemies, we are referring to whoever or whatever forms a distraction; something that vies to steal our focus away from Him. The Hebrews writer mentions this in:

Hebrews 12:2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

In the Old Testament, from the book of Numbers, we find a fitting picture to illustrate this. It tells the story of when the People of God had come to the border of the Promised Land; Moses (the leader) sends twelve men from the twelve tribes of the Hebrews to go and spy out the land. This land that God had given them was an amazing land and it literally was overflowing with milk and honey. However, ten spies came back with a negative report, saying: “But the people who dwell there are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, there we saw the sons of Anak [of great stature and courage].” (Numbers 13:28)

Do you see the big BUT? They report that it is a wonderful land and that God has greatly blessed this land, BUT.... This big BUT cancelled out everything they have just said! These ten spies, from their ‘dust-perspective’ saw only giants and fortified cities! They had forgotten what God had said! Did God not promise them this land? These ten spies were there during the Passover meal in Egypt, they came through the Read Sea on dry land, they enjoyed God’s miraculous provision for them in the wilderness (water, manna, meat) and have seen His wonder working power on numerous occasions. Did they forget the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night? These men were not ‘worldly’ men (ignorant as to God’s existence), they were the children of God and had seen His Hand at work many times! These men knew better (who God is), but they chose to look from a natural perspective, they chose to walk ‘bent over’. The Hebrews writer goes on to say:

Hebrews 4:1-2 “THEREFORE, WHILE the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it. (2) For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).”

This is not a problem restricted to the ten spies from the Old Testament, unfortunately this is a huge problem still prevalent amongst God’s children today! The Message of the Good News has no benefit, because it is not mixed with faith, but mixed with ‘dust’! Our ‘dust perspectives’ are nullifying the Message; it’s watering down the absolute power of the Cross to a mere crutch!!

Yes, there will be many things in this life, in our daily walk, which has the potential to steal away our perspective/focus. BUT we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit Who constantly reminds us of what God had taken care of (finished) in Christ! God’s rest (the Promised Land) is ours! Focus on Him and see that He is seated in Heavenly Places – the work is done, it is finished, all has been completed! According to Ephesians 2:6, we have been placed in Him! We are seated with Him (in Him) in the Heavenly sphere. There is no more 'work' for us to be done, we may now live Life through His Spirit, and stop wasting time on trying to reach a place where we already are in Him!


This does not mean that we are now to sit back and do nothing, God has also placed you in a specific place in the 'earthly sphere', to 'be' what He has given you in the heavenly sphere- you are the best one for the job at hand, and He has given you everything freely to be just that!


May your day be filled with the intimate realization of His Love for you!