As Believers, We Live in a Dual World, Part 1
By: David McFadden
“…for in Him we live and move and have our being,…” Acts 17:28
I have found it most difficult for a new believer or immature believer to fully understand the duality of their existence. As believers, we live in this world but we are not of this world. I have known sincere people trying to live the “Christian life” but seemingly can’t fully embrace what it means to be a Christian, which is a frustrating experience. Being a Christian is not a title to strive to achieve or maintain as best you can. Being a Christian is who you are. A dog doesn’t try to act like a dog; a dog is a dog because he is a dog! People become Christians through a transformation of the heart that is a supernatural process only God can bring about as you give your life over to Him.
Upon believing in Jesus and turning your heart toward God and His kingdom purposes, you are transformed into a new creation in Christ. The “old you” died with Christ and your true identity no longer identifies with this temporal world. You still live here, but your purpose for living is shifted 180 degrees—you have been purchased from the slave market of sin and invited to live in God’s house as His son or daughter. Your thoughts and actions no longer reflect the cares and concerns of this world, but upon pleasing God and by walking in His ways.
Admittedly, living in a dual world is a mystery that confounds natural thinking. The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian church that the natural mind cannot perceive spiritual matters or consider them because an unregenerate mind considers God’s plan for man as foolishness. (1 Corinthians 1:18-29, 2:6-16) However, when we turn to God through Jesus, Paul tells us the veil (of spiritual blindness) is removed and we begin a journey of having the mind of Christ where all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are available to those who earnestly seek God. When this happens, the dual world becomes plainly delineated, allowing the maturing Christian to see and walk in God’s plan and purposes.
Living in a dual world means that we experience the temporal realm alongside the unseen spiritual world. However, the key to fully understanding the duality of our existence is being Spirit led rather than carnally minded. Believers are spiritual beings that possess an eternal soul, living in a temporal body. The wonderful mystery is that as a believer, you live in a dichotomy—you remain in the temporal world but the things of this world grow strangely dim. Through spiritual rebirth, you have gained dual citizenship status, where, through prayer, we bring these two worlds together, clashing one against the other.
Jesus said many times, “…if you have “ears to hear” and “eyes to see.” Jesus was referring to having spiritual eyes and spiritual ears. Jesus was addressing people who were religious but did not apprehend the spiritual implications of His parables. They could not “see” beyond the veil separating the natural realm from His spiritual kingdom. Nor could they “hear” His Spirit speak to them. Jesus is still asking this question to all who seek Him. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says it this way,
“If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
I have had conversations with many people about living a Spirit-led life. I have found that people place a strong emphasis on duty and obligation as a means to define their profession of faith. Invariably, I will hear, “I give money… I help people… I volunteer… I pray… I read the Bible… I go to church…” all of which indicate a belief in God. This is good, but God desires that we go beyond the natural application of His Word. This lack of understanding seems impossible since we are spiritual beings, especially as believers, who are born again to a spiritual life, having a spiritual Father. Even so, “walking in the Spirit” is a foreign concept to many people who confess Christ.
Our good works that are accomplished in the natural realm produce results in the natural realm. But God wants a greater, eternal harvest. Because of our dual citizenship status, there is a balance to achieve between the natural application of our faith and God’s desire that we walk in the Spirit. Here’s how applying spiritual principles produces eternal works that glorify God. Remember, God’s Word is living and powerful and is the answer to every possible need that manifest itself in the natural realm
Through prayer, we connect to the spiritual realm which produces results in the spiritual realm that, in turn, produces God’s will in the natural realm. Yes, we can produce good results when we help meet a person’s physical needs, but when we connect him or her to God, His Living Word produces His Life in that person, which produces an eternal work that glorifies God.
When we yield to God’s Spirit, to walk in the Spirit, He gives us the anointing to go beyond the natural realm to obtain God’s provisions available to us or the person we pray for. Through prayer, His provisions are supplied to the whole man; spirit, soul and body, demonstrating God’s love in a tangible and relevant way. Yes, His abundant provisions in the natural realm are meant to show His faithfulness and goodness as our heavenly Father. Why does God do this?—He wants to reach your heart so that He can capture it! God knows that if He can draw you to Himself, He can begin to transform your life.
Heavenly Father, thank You for redeeming me from the slave market of sin, and inviting me into Your house to become Your son/daughter. Thank You for transforming my heart. Thank You that I don’t have to act like a Christian because You made me a new creation and Your Spirit is in me to be authentic. Thank You for my life where I live and move and have my being in Jesus. Thank You for giving me the mind of Christ where all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are available to me as I earnestly seek You. Thank You for righteous discernment to perceive spiritual matters, allowing me to plainly delineated the dual world so I see and walk in Your plan and purposes. LORD, help me “see” even more clearly beyond the veil separating the natural realm from Your spiritual kingdom, so I can pray effectively, knowing that I am clashing two worlds together. LORD, I ask for the anointing to walk in the spirit so I can properly apply Your spiritual principles that produce eternal works to glorify You. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Your precious Son, the redeemer of mankind. Amen.
Excerpted and adapted from David McFadden’s “Deeper Life Series”.
For more articles from this series go to: https://www.deeperlifeseries.com/devotional-archive
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