Beloved Brethren,
The other day I was having lunch with a friend who informed me he had survived a heart attack while on tour in a distant city. This amazing brother shared how he had been dead for a while then revived and recalled being very calm throughout the ordeal, letting the nurses and attending physicians know not to worry or be alarmed at his condition. (If it were not for the seriousness of the subject matter, I would be tempted to share something like, "ignorance is bliss".) The reality is that this man knows God. He knows that his life is secure and that what awaits him is an eternity in the presence of the One who woos his heart and stirs his soul.
Continuing the conversation, he candidly shared that what he experienced was not the typical white light in the distance we so often hear about but rather a keen awareness of oneness with Christ. At an instant he was aware of abiding presence with not only Jesus but each other. It is as if we were all one being, one consciousness, one person. There was no shame. We knew all about each other and there was no judgment, only peace and beyond acceptance, an embracing, a welcoming of each other as family. We were (are) all one.
I pondered this testimony and verses bounced in my head... my spirit finding truth and an awakened agreement with God's Father heart.
1 Corinthians 12:12
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body and one Spirit
My friend pondered a question out loud, "If we only knew what it was like, we would be so much more inclined to be kind to each other on earth." I thought further and asked, "If we really understood the concept of being 'one' in Jesus, we would not even argue with each other for we would be arguing with ourselves". Now there is a thought. What would happen if we treated each other, not as we would like to be treated, but rather in actuality, knowing each other is just another part of ourselves, treating each other as we would treat ourselves - an even higher calling. What level of respect, honor, kindness and forgiveness would we offer each other if it were to ourselves? What phenomenal relationships we would all have!
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor
John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another
Blessings to you all.
The other day I was having lunch with a friend who informed me he had survived a heart attack while on tour in a distant city. This amazing brother shared how he had been dead for a while then revived and recalled being very calm throughout the ordeal, letting the nurses and attending physicians know not to worry or be alarmed at his condition. (If it were not for the seriousness of the subject matter, I would be tempted to share something like, "ignorance is bliss".) The reality is that this man knows God. He knows that his life is secure and that what awaits him is an eternity in the presence of the One who woos his heart and stirs his soul.
Continuing the conversation, he candidly shared that what he experienced was not the typical white light in the distance we so often hear about but rather a keen awareness of oneness with Christ. At an instant he was aware of abiding presence with not only Jesus but each other. It is as if we were all one being, one consciousness, one person. There was no shame. We knew all about each other and there was no judgment, only peace and beyond acceptance, an embracing, a welcoming of each other as family. We were (are) all one.
I pondered this testimony and verses bounced in my head... my spirit finding truth and an awakened agreement with God's Father heart.
1 Corinthians 12:12
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body and one Spirit
My friend pondered a question out loud, "If we only knew what it was like, we would be so much more inclined to be kind to each other on earth." I thought further and asked, "If we really understood the concept of being 'one' in Jesus, we would not even argue with each other for we would be arguing with ourselves". Now there is a thought. What would happen if we treated each other, not as we would like to be treated, but rather in actuality, knowing each other is just another part of ourselves, treating each other as we would treat ourselves - an even higher calling. What level of respect, honor, kindness and forgiveness would we offer each other if it were to ourselves? What phenomenal relationships we would all have!
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor
John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another
Blessings to you all.
