"Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven."
(Check it out here: http://danieltwyerould.weebly.com/1/post/2012/04/a-new-culture-a-new-breed-pt-1.html )
I asked the question what might heaven look like? What is the culture that is in heaven, and is the culture on earth supposed to match it?
Yes.
Earth is heaven made flesh, or it was the original intention of God. Through sin it has been corrupted and defiled, yet not lost. Our God is the God of the redeemed. He designed us to be made new in Him, and as we are made new, He imparts His culture into us. With that new culture inside of us, we release it to the world in every conversation, action, thought and deed. Transforming the culture around us to the heavenly standard, as the earth itself is groaning to be made new and redeemed to it's original state. So too is men's hearts groaning to be made new.
We have the desire for perfection, but cannot carry it out due to the sinful and fleshly nature.
The good news? We can crucify it with Christ and live according to our new natures!
This new nature has no fear, no shame, no hurt. There is no pain, and no sorrow. The troubles of life come against us still, more so now that we have placed ourselves as priority targets for the enemy. But we have the choice and freedom to walk out in the new nature, in the midst of despair we can love. It the middle of hate, we can choose to help. We can respond in kindness to our enemies, instead of repaying evil for evil.
What a joy! It releases us from the burden of holding onto these hurts to make them right, and instead lets God make us right, knowing who we are in Him, and it releases them from the judgement and shame that we might otherwise heap on them, making their situation worse!
We release the power of God into the world! The power to free the captives starting with ourselves.
Let me finish by asking you a question. Do you think hat there is hurt, pain, loneliness, sorrow, injury, illness, suffering and anger in heaven?
Hopefully you answered no. And if so, then why do we tolerate them on earth?
This week, let us be conformed in our minds, in our hearts and in our spirits to allow His truth to become ours. When he says that you are free, you are free indeed! When he says you are well, you are well indeed!
Let us radically choose for a life of Faith, over a life submitting to the circumstances around us. I promise that the change you desperately desire is here for you. How do I know? Because it was here for me.
Peace!
Daniel