www.ohm-inc.org
Life Lines
The above graphic is an illustration of an overview of a believer in Christ from the age of 18 (the point of his belief) till his death at age 71. It further shows his residency within the three power spheres during his lifetime. But to help you better orientate yourself to the concept of the power spheres, I have taken the spheres and have laid them out for you in what I will call life lines. These life lines coincide and correspond with time. I call these three life lines the following:
- the spiritual life (Sphere of Faith SOF)
- the carnal life (Sphere of Carnality SOC)
- the evil life (Sphere of Evil SOE)
What is your Spiritual Age?
As we have an AGE by which to measure our chronological life, we have a spiritual, carnal and evil age. If fact, the believer's chronological life is the sum of the three. (see below)
Now notice that charted upon the three lines are two colored lines: yellow and red. The combination of these two lines represents not only the sum of his evil (18), carnal (17), and spiritual ages (36), but more specifically one's conduct, walk, or behavioral pattern while physical alive. What the chart further shows is perhaps the most notable. It actually represents his manner of thinking. As you can see from the above illustration, his (and ours) thinking tends to vacillate between the spiritual and carnal states.
A Heavenly Standard
But more importantly, it charts his life against a standard. That standard is the Lord Jesus Christ. At anyone time, we might ask ourselves, where are we in terms of Christ's example?
Christ's life was a perfect one, always pleasing to the Father. This was because Christ-though tempted-never walked outside or beyond the boundaries of the Sphere of Faith. He never strayed or took a detour from the spiritual life line. Such was His attitude of determination, dedication, and desire to accomplish God's will.
Note that Christ Jesus was born into the Sphere of Faith upon the life line of spirituality, which is in effect, the path of righteousness. This was because He was born of a virgin impregnated by the Holy Spirit, Luke 1:31-35. Therefore, He was born without sin or a sin nature. He remained in this perfect state (note only a yellow line) His entire life. As Jesus was born into a spiritual, everlasting life, we must be born again into the spiritual life (Jn. 3:3). This is accomplished by believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior.
Production Values
Lastly, the lines show our production value or profit within the three power spheres. The lines in red upon the carnal life line represent wood, hay and stubble -which have no eternal value. On the other hand, production from within the Sphere of Faith and upon the spiritual life line are represented by the yellow line. They are biblically termed as gold, silver, and precious stones. It is the means by which we make for ourselves purses which do not wear out, Lk. 12:33b. Christian production will be tested by fire at the judgment seat of Christ. Only that which was produced from the Sphere of Faith will remain. Production from within the Sphere of Carnality will be lost by fire, but the believer will remain, 1 Cor. 3:15.
Love for God defined
One final thought. The time we spend in the Sphere of Faith and upon the the spiritual life line graphically shows and demonstrates our love for God. In fact, I will be so bold to say it defines our love for God.
For it is not our words, the waving about of our arms, the running around the church, the giving of tithes, going about doing good deeds, etc. which prove our love for God, but the execution of His will in the spiritual state (1 Jn. 5:3).
The good of the self-righteous is worthless
Those believers who live in the Sphere of Carnality and upon the carnal life line are lukewarm towards God. These are the most despicable people on earth. They are hypocrites...unfaithful servants...who love God in word only. Because of these, "The name of God is blasphemed among" the nations, Romans 2:24.
Christ said, "Those who love Me keep My Word." We learned in our study of Mark 11:23 what this word was: "Have Faith in God." This is tantamount to the spiritual life, life within the Sphere of Faith. Some might argue that God's Word can be kept outside of the Sphere of Faith and the spiritual life. But apart from the spiritual life such obedience amounts to little more self-rightouesness. We may view such deeds as moral, good, and humanitarian, but are viewed differently from a divine perspective. See Isaiah 64:6.
Let me be clear: life outside of grace and the Sphere of Faith is termed "in the flesh." And works of the flesh are regarded as nothing more than wood, hay, and stubble. Such works bring no glory to God. Furthermore, God proclaims that our righteousness (deeds outside the Sphere of Faith) produces nothing of eternal profit, Is. 57:12.
In our next lesson, we shall concentrate on redeeming the time unto God's glory. We shall see that this term refers to the spiritual life. Time spent in the Sphere of Faith is time very well spent. For here, we prepare for our eternal destiny!
Copyright ©1996 Robert W. Case Jr.
Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright ©1960, 1962,, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission.
|
Bookorder|Email|HomePage |