Your journey through earth is not a picnic, but a battle-ground. Spiritual Reality, while not always easy, is attainable. And though it is a never ending fight, the battle for Reality is a winnable war. Here are four requirements to live in VITAL REALITY.
Extreme Honesty
Spiritual warfare is about “pulling down strongholds.” Identifying and admitting your besetting sins will require absolute honesty. Denying your sin is little other than an attempt to deceive yourself, as well as God. Adequate provision for all your sin was made at the Cross, but you must deliberately UNCOVER your faults. Calvary only covers the things you uncover! By agreeing with God about your transgressions, you open the door for Grace. Remember, He gives grace to the humble. And the humble are the ones who bow their heads in total Honesty, not defensive pride.
Radical Amputation
Jesus used strong metaphorical language when He said, ‘If your right hand offends you, cut it off, and cast it away’ (Mat. 5:30). A holy life requires practical obedience. You cannot make provision for the flesh if you would walk in Reality. Some things must be “cut off.” Eliminate the things which cause you to stumble. Avoid anything, or anyone, that draws you away from victory. Paul said, “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). Don’t expect all temptation to evaporate—it won’t! The battle for REALITY is a fight to the finish. Prepare mentally for the ongoing struggle with your flesh, the world, and the Devil. Don’t be dismayed. Suit up in the armor, and put the knife to anything that tempts you to fall.
Up-to-date Repentance
To repent means to change the mind. This involves a turning FROM wrong and turning TO God. Initial repentance is the prelude to our ongoing, continual turning. Vital reality calls us to become PROFESSIONAL REPENTERS! You get good at something through repetition. Lifelong Repenters do not shun or shy away from their responsibility to turn back to the Lord—continually! “Walking in the light” is a moment-by-moment proposition. Professional Repenters turn to the Lord quickly without hesitation. Recovery is not a long drawn out ordeal, but happens quickly through child-like faith. Learning to repent instantly is the most healthy and restful thing you can do.
Habitual Faith
Faith is confidence in God. Unbelief is misplaced confidence. Unbelief is confidence in anything other than God Himself. Habitual faith means getting into and staying in the “Faith Mode.” That means maturing to the point where faith is your first response. The three Hebrew children developed their “faith walk” to the point where they could say “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods” (Dan. 3:17-18). They possessed an unwavering confidence in God. Habitual Faith, learned in the classroom of life, is the final key in the fight for spiritual reality.
