Becoming TRUE Spiritual Community (3)

     Larry explains using the idea of two rooms. There is the first floor and the second floor. The first floor may be called this world, the flesh, and everyday life. It is here that we see the usual conflict, sin, injury and pain. At this level, we are self-centered, we feel the pressure to live according to our own values and above all, protect ourselves. “Is this all my life is? There must be more to life than this!” Even the non-believer is aware of a higher level – the second floor, and now we are anticipating COMMUNION. This is the world changed (transformed) by Christ, the changed self, the self-centered attitude is changed into a passion to worship Christ, distrust in others is changed into trust in Christ and self-destructive pleasures are changed into a passion to grow spiritually. 

Instead of “I can manage my own life,” our thoughts have changed to “I will be obedient to Christ!” Even the non-believer thinks that life itself is more than just the first floor. They are looking for a place of refuge. Therefore, he gets hooked on the SPIRITUAL. That is because loneliness is none other than a thirst for God. But, the non-believer doesn’t have the key to get into the second floor even if he knows it exists. Knowing that there is a higher level is a tremendous blessing. When we enter the second floor by knowing Christ, the following shift takes place:

     (1.) Focus on self  →　Worshipping God

     (2.) Myself as the standard of judgment  →　God’s Word as the standard for all things

           * Man ate the fruit of the tree of good and evil and was able to discern good and evil without God. In other words, man himself became the standard of judgment. He concluded that there was no God and believing is not enough.

     (3.) Managing my life by myself  →　Life as trusting in and walking with Christ

    In this way, we become free. There is peace. There is no dead end. Even if you get stuck, there is always the second level. And, when you go there, you find Christ. There is the preparation for the feast. Therefore, the spiritual community is a fellowship of those who know the second level. ———————　
Looking forward to your comments! asktmc@gmail.com  (Kazu Kurihara)