Well, God’s word said that when Christ returns, “…with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Only Christ can wake the dead and bring them to Him, and only in Him, can we be made alive. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:1-2. Further on, Paul proclaims that we were children of wrath, dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace we have been saved). (Paraphrased from Ephesians 2:3-5).
If this is so, why do we still attend to our sin nature which is dead, and how do we attend to our new nature in Christ? Galatians 5:16 says this: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” (The dead part that formerly defined us).
This is a common thread in much of the Bible: Death-Life, even in the Old Testament. Ezekiel 36:26: “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Romans 8:13 “For if you are living according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
How do we live in our new identity – new life, our “True Life”? I challenge you to read the 25 verses in Colossians 3. This chapter starts with the same logic – Colossians 3:1-3: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Why do we still attend to the dead part of us and how do we break free and realize our identity? What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? I have found that it is by living a life of prayer. Jesus would retreat to a lonely place to pray, sometimes for extended periods, especially before major or difficult decisions. John 5:19: “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way’”. Wow, Jesus was totally dependent upon the Father in prayer for his next moves. If Jesus needed to do this, should we also, who are now alive in Christ?
I myself have found it absolutely impossible to be satisfied by what the world has to offer. The more I try to extract “from the world”, the more I crave what cannot satisfy; and after a brief foray into self-gratification, I only have regrets and a sense of emptiness and even shame. Shame will never motivate. Romans 2:4 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” We are not compelled by shame, but by love. When I “indulged” in shame or victimhood, I was feeding the dead part of me, the part put to death by Christ. It led me to despair of my life.
So, what is the answer? Feed the life we have gained in Christ. Do not feed the flesh; rather put it to death. The answer for me is prayer and worship. There was a movement called “What Would Jesus Do” or (WWJD) on a bracelet. I prefer “what would Jesus be” in this moment? This is more difficult, yet so much more gratifying. In order to know this, we need to pray. Adhering to Ephesians 4:29 is very difficult. “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” How wonderful it is to be used as the mouthpiece of God, we can speak words of His life. If we are in an attitude of prayer and wonder of God, we can be just that to build each other up – to bring “True Life” to another. It is more blessed to give than receive. John 15:5 states “….. Without me you can do nothing”. What can we do with Him though? I am so glad you asked.
This is an attitude of prayer and worship we find in the 3rd Chapter of Colossians.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another will all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:15-17.
Wouldn’t that be a wonderful way to live, to not feed death? We cannot wake up death, yet we can live in what Christ gave us, through prayer and worship and wonder at the person of God. Maybe you could develop a rotation of songs through YouTube or other means that draw you into the wonder of God at the start of your day. It may permeate your day, and you might be encouraging others through the power of those songs, creating an attitude of perpetual prayer.
by John Colvin
