Am I Spiritually Alive? (2)

Yesterday we were reminded that even though we cannot see the wind, we can see its effects all around us.  In the same way we cannot see God but we can see all that God has done in creation, how He’s changed lives around us – even our own. 

For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts.   From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.  (Romans 1:19-20 NLT)

When we invite God to come into our lives, take away our sin and give us a nourishing and uplifting relationship with Him, he does it by filling us with His presence, with His Holy Spirit.  Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserved for our sins.  When we ask for forgiveness, God removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.  By believing in Jesus we become new creations.  We are born again into the Kingdom of God.  Our spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit and we become one with Christ. We do not see the Holy Spirit enter our body but He definitely comes in and we know within ourselves that something has changed.  We can then say with the apostle Paul,

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  (Galatians 2:20 NIV)

We don’t see bad things being washed away.  We don’t see a new heart being created inside us.  We don’t see life filling our previously dead spirits but it surely is happening.  It’s happening in the spiritual world and we are spiritual people.  What we “see” is new hope and new joy and a new ability to love and be loved.  What we experience is new strength to say “no” when we need to avoid harmful addiction and relationships and an ability to say “yes” to forgiving others and taking responsibility for our own actions.  Those are signs that this new life from God has changed us in the core of our being. 

Those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.  (Romans 8:5-8 NLT)

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