08/03/2020
How is our spirit today? Is it intertwined with the Holy Spirit as they both dwell within us? Have we accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, and by this have we come to receive the Holy Spirit of He who raised Christ from the dead? If so, then in this way we are freed form sin and death, and become the children of God, and the hope of all creation. For Just as our redemption comes to us through Jesus Christ, the further redemption of God’s creation comes through us by our acceptance of Him... in this way we secure the extended salvation of all creation.
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
Romans 8:11 ESV
Of every physical thing, and creature, created by God, we are unique in that we are dichotomous, and are comprised of both a material body, and a spiritual self. We stand with one foot and hand in heaven, and the other on the earth. We are the bridge between God and His creation, standing astride heaven and earth, and in this way God pronounced the universe complete, and called it very good... all because of man, who like nothing else, was made in His image, and belonged to Him.
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
Romans 8:9 ESV
Like every other living organism we were made to die once at the instant of our fall, this too is an extension of man that every creature inherited in Eden. but if we accept the propitiation of Christ, then that death is momentary, and we, along with the world, will receive eternal life with God through the Blood of Jesus.
“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”
John 12:47 ESV
We are promised this in scripture... that if we become children of God by putting our physical selves behind us, and beginning to live in the spirit as children of God through Jesus, then eternity becomes our new reality, and releases God’s creation as well
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Romans 8:13-14 ESV
After hearing all of this you might be feeling the weight of the world, and wondering how you can possibly save yourself, much less all living creatures... indeed the world. This is truly a great responsibility, but just as it took one simple bite of forbidden fruit to cascade all of creation into ruin, It is equally as simple for us to rescue it. God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden that led to our fall, and now He has sent His Son to us so that we might just as easily be redeemed. One simple bite to fall, and one equally simple act of faith to be redeemed. Then, as if that wasn’t easy enough, He sent His Holy Spirit to lead us, and to pray for us when we aren’t certain how to do so, and gave us His grace to accommodate whatever other shortcomings we have. So if we accept Jesus, and allow Him to abide in us, we also receive the Holy Spirit, and God Himself within us as well; in this way, our own spirt will thus have been cleansed, and ushered back into the state of man when he was first created.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Romans 8:26 ESV
We often think of the second coming of Jesus, and the dead rising to join Him in the sky, as a purely spiritual occurrence, but it is much more than that; it is the glorious moment when all of God’s creatures, and creation, are relieved of the burden imposed on them by man’s fall. We can see this very clearly at the moment when Adam and Eve faced punishment. God made Eve, the woman, to suffer in childbirth, and at that instant her suffering was extended to all creatures... and they too groaned in childbirth thereafter. Suffering came to them, even though they had not eaten of the forbidden fruit. In this way man’s salvation was every creature’s hope as well.
“that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”
Romans 8:21-22 ESV
So, let’s ask ourselves today about the condition of our spirit, and turn to Jesus in either thanksgiving for His amazing redemption, or begin our prayer of contrition as we ask him to come into our hearts, and abide in us. Let’s consider the one bite fruit which brought all of creation down, and consider our simple act of faith that can restore it again. Are you ready?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, and for the simplicity of salvation’s plan which you have made available to us through Him. Thank you for your grace, and the Holy Spirit, which make it possible for us to cross over our own lack of understanding, and find eternity in your presence. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who made us in your image, and who loves us enough to have sent your only begotten Son to die for us, And redeem us after we failed you. Praised be your name for abiding in us, and allowing us to abide in you. Mighty is your Spirit that translates the desires of our hearts into groans and words, then helps us to pray them. Amazing is your grace that flows through Jesus and makes us worthy despite all that we have done which should have earned us the title of unrighteous. Hear our prayers of contrition Father, and lead us to you in one simple phrase... “Come into my life Lord Jesus.” One bite, one acceptance, and one act of forgiveness... such a simple plan that leads me, and all of your creation to you forevermore.
“And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:27 ESV
Rich Forbes