Eternity: Part 2

Colossians 3:1

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

I think sometimes we miss the practicality of eternity. We should be concerned with the actual doings of the sons rather than debating with theories and ideologies. God’s Word is true and the scriptures will not be broken.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

God says He inhabits eternity with those who are of a contrite and humble spirit. He has placed us in eternity with Him. It seems we have missed the practicality of being eternal beings. Satan has managed to establish a strong disconnect between the saints and the truth. But hopefully, by the time we get to the end of this lesson you will allow the knowledge of God to have a perfect work in you.

Part one of this lesson goes to great lengths to convince the sons of God that they are eternal beings. They know this in theory. But the teachings in the Body of Christ have not allowed us to entertain our eternal nature in a meaningful and powerful way. It is academic knowledge alone. Thus, we have the great disconnect. Nevertheless, the scriptures point us to a life beyond this world; an existence that is glorious, and greater than anything we could imagine.

The Father wants the Church to be of the same mind as our Lord Jesus Christ. When He walked here, He walked in a totally different perspective than that of the church. He walked here as a Lord from Heaven. He knew He was not of this world. He was fashioned in a heavenly place, the Holy Spirit. He lived in the Kingdom of God; and His walk in this world manifested the evidence of His spiritual home.

The Church, on the contrary, does not see itself as heavenly beings. It seems we are found stuck at our salvation experience. The church sees its existence as having begun with our infilling. But the truth is we were in Christ before the foundations of the world. But for the sake of this lesson, let us begin right there, (at salvation). When I received the Holy Spirit a change occurred. We became entirely new creatures. However, the question we fail to answer is, “Where did this creature come from?” We must understand that at salvation God not only took the soul out of the flesh, but He took it out of this earthen realm. We have been taken completely out of the world and placed in the Spirit (Holy Ghost); which is the Kingdom of God.

The scripture testifies we are in the world, but not of the world. Let us look at a few scriptures that speak to this truth.

Hebrews 12:22-24

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Philippians 3:20

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

John 3:13

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Jesus declares Himself to be in Heaven during His conversation with Nicodemus. Though walking on the earth, He lived in the heavenly place which is not of this world. This is what it means to be a heavenly being. It means you are from heaven and exist in heaven. Nicodemus saw Jesus simply as a teacher. Jesus was much more than a teacher. He was a presentation of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God was at hand, or in other words, the Kingdom of God was right there standing in front of him. This mentality or reality was not peculiar to Jesus. He is the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence. This means there is no plight Jesus experienced that we don’t experience. Preeminence means He did it first.

Ephesians 2:5-6

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

As He is so are we the sons of God. We, too, live in that heavenly place. That is the only truth that makes sense seeing as how we are begotten by a heavenly Spirit. Where else would we live but in the Spirit. The truth is many might agree with the place of our abode in their mind, but the proof they have not truly believed it as the scriptures reports is in their walk. They do not walk in the Spirit. My brother, my sister, consider the fact that you are a creature from another Kingdom. This is the mentality Jesus always walked in. He was always mindful of where He came from. It was, therefore, not hard for Him to abstain from this world because He was not a creature of this world. This is the foundation of our existence here on earth. We must agree with our heritage. God was and is His only parent. He is a quickening spirit.

Matthew 12:48-50

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Same way so. God has begotten us through Jesus Christ. He is our Father. Maybe that is why He instructs us to forsake all to follow Him. What’s missing is our perception. The perception that we are beings from heaven. We know it as a concept; but we have not perceived the reality of our sonship.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

This can no longer be a theory or mere concept. It must become the reality we live in. Except we embrace these truths we can never confess to walking in the mind of Christ. Furthermore, we will never manifest true sonship until we acknowledge the workmanship of God.

LIVING IN THE KINGDOM

Our citizenship is in heaven. It means we are literally not citizens of this world. We are not of this world. This is why it is so insulting to God when we get caught up fighting and defrauding one another for gain. We argue about political matters and have fierce debates regarding the issues of this world. Why are we so tied to these things? Simply because we do not see ourselves as heavenly beings. Some have embraced this world to be their reality. They can fully grasp the trends and the way of this life. They are fascinated by the people of darkness. They want to be like them. They want the things these people have obtained through their sinful lifestyles. But our faith is not for the acquisition of things. When we walk by sight we will serve this life, and embrace the functions of this world. We will totally forget we are sons sent from heaven to procure more sons. God has spoken to me. The scriptures let us know that this world will surely pass away. Why then are we so adamant in attaining the things of this world? Moreover, the Lord has given to us all things freely, the time is coming when we will rule the world. But, right now, what is our drive? The reality is we have in our minds diminished the Holy Ghost and made Him subject to our circumstances, situations and relationships. He is so small to us, when on the contrary He is where we live. He is our world! Jesus made a statement that we do not even realize relates to us.

John 8:58

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

The sons of God were not created on earth. Therefore, our birth on earth was not our beginning. We were in God before the world began. Our salvation experience is therefore, a sending from heaven - literally. If the church were to embrace this truth, then it would find it easy to forsake the world; and the philosophies and doctrines of men.

Colossians 2:20-21

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Be encouraged, we are the sons of the Living God.