Romans 13:11-14

The normal pattern is to sleep during the night and live life in the light of day. Here, Paul is speaking to those who have this backward spiritually. He is trying to awaken those who are asleep in the light. As Paul is looking through the lens of the Spirit he is seeing something akin to The Walking Dead. If you have been unfortunate enough to stumble across this TV show, it is about zombies; they are moving but they aren’t alive. They present a ghastly scene.

Paul’s remedy for sleepwalking was to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (as He is “the armor of light”). How does one go about spiritually clothing themselves with someone else? Personally, over the years, I have been very intentional as to how I have dressed spiritually. Mostly my attire has consisted of spiritual disciplines involving the scriptures and prayer. I have added complimentary items such as fellowship and witnessing at times. They are still a part of my wardrobe but I no longer select them with the concern as to how I may look in public.

The idea of putting on something unfortunately implies that we have, at some point, taken something off. Putting something on also presents a picture of us taking something external to us and covering ourselves with it. Once upon a time, it seemed obvious to me that “putting on Christ” meant that I must study and memorize the scripture and spend “x” amount of time daily in prayer; then I would be properly dressed for battle. It seemed like a manageable routine. I was pretty good at it (the routine that is). I liked the idea that if I dressed myself by doing this and by doing that, then “presto”, out would pop a certified spiritual dynamo and a productive fruit-bearing follower of Jesus Christ.

Why was it then, that in the battle I seemed to have a big bullseye painted on me? Even though I was (at least I thought) one of the better dressed and heavily armored lay-saints on the field.  I felt like a smoldering target, shot through with the enemy’s fiery arrows – always on the defensive.  I would never quite die though. The preacher would eventually rescue me by saying, “Remember, we know how the battle ends, you are victorious in Christ” and I’m thinking, “OK, if you say so….. but what’s the deal with my armor?! I must not be putting this stuff on right!”

For years, I would address my poor battlefield performance by recommitting myself to the Lord and to spiritual disciplines. The results were not too impressive. Sadly, they consisted mostly of loads of guilt and shame for being such an inept soldier, confirming time and again the hopelessness of my fallen nature driving me back for more Sunday-sized servings of the bible and recommitments to service and devotion (admittedly good things).

The tide in my battle began to shift though when I finally began awakening to the fact that “putting on Christ” was not first a “doing” thing; it was a “being” thing. It was not just putting something on external to myself; it was about acknowledging something that was internal and already true about me; that Christ is truly my life and He lives within me. The kingdom of God is within us.

My failure as a warrior was not due to my lack of discipline or an inherently wicked heart as I had suspected. It turns out that there was a bullseye painted on me. It was guilt and shame. The enemy is very skilled at seeing guilt and shame which are the natural byproducts of religion; i.e.; doing things (especially good things) to please God and others (even noble things like serving others and attending to our armor).

God wants to transform our hearts deep down where our motives are formed. We were created for freedom and liberty and love and these cannot coexist with shame, guilt and condemnation. So, as I have often said, I believe the front line of the kingdom battle is our individual hearts. God wants radical grace to transform our hearts and remove our bulls-eyes. That being said; let it be known that He won’t waste a good bullseye either. All things work together for our benefit in our Father’s economy.

I pray that we will begin to hear more testimonies from believers with the, “I Was A Christian Zombie” theme. I think it probably is a ghastly sight to see us repeatedly attempting to live the Christian life in our own strength; either growing proud or growing disillusioned. I know I seem to be crediting the enemy with some success in His deceitful attacks on us. This is partly true but the bigger picture I see is God using the enemy’s tactics to His own advantage. Let me try and explain;

Prodigals sons are one thing. Rescuing them is a victory. They are so alive and grateful to God; they shine so brightly as they are awakened to the reality that they have been forgiven of their ugly sinful lives and have been clothed by the Father in His finest robe – the one made from His righteousness. But, there are those sons who may shine brighter still; that is us older, elder brother types who will ultimately repent of our ghastly religious performances that have long alienated us from the loving generous heart of our Father (and each other). I could imagine the tide of battle shifting when the elder brothers (those asleep in the light) become fully awake. Given their numbers, rescuing the elder brothers could start a revolution!

Note: The front line of the kingdom battle is often described to us as that line where the forces of darkness are arrayed on one side, represented by either the demonic principalities in the heavens or their earthly minions (usually that opposing evil political ideology). This view attracts the responses from the other side (of the supposed front line) of spiritual warfare or of political activism. I do not doubt that legitimate skirmishes are being fought in these arenas but I do not believe they are the front line of the battle. I base my observation on the glaring absence of these strategies in the New Testament as well as their apparent lack of effectiveness in the earth today.

I am proposing that to attract the elder brothers back into the fray, it will require a new even greater awakening that presents the front line of the battle as being in the hearts of men. And, to our shock, it will not be out there somewhere between evil (as it has been described to us) and good (as it has been portrayed); It will be within us. I believe the line will be redefined in our own hearts by what has been good and what is now best. The kingdom of God is within us and it is with Him with whom we have to do (not ultimately Satan or some earthly ideology).

Note; to my friends called to battle in these arenas, I want to say thank you; especially to the intercessors who are likely laying the ground work for the kingdom of God.

Do we even have a clue as to what extent these motivations drive us and the bulls-eyes they paint on us? Do we see how much toiling and spinning (in our guilt and shame) we are engaged in? How much of this false guilt-shame energy is fueling a false war against demons and the opposing political party? In the west we are on a post-Christian-slide. The good news is that this earth may be in the beginning phases of a pre-kingdom-ascent. Our only hope is that Christ in us (the only clothing or armor we have ever had) truly becomes the hope of our glory. We will know when we are appropriately dressed when we no longer toil nor spin in our concern for His approval or that of others. We will no longer be stumbling in this way. We will simply stand before Him (and others) with boldness and great joy because we will finally be at rest, being dressed in Christ alone. Then we shall be the salt and light we have been called to be.

Father, help us to see and repent where the “whys” behind our actions are nothing more than compliance, driven by guilty “ought to’s” and “need to’s“. Set us utterly free from our “doings” that are driven by motives to earn Your love or appear well to others. Help us to awaken fully to who we are, independent of any activity. Help us to clearly see our identities as sons and daughters of the King Eternal – created to enjoy You and Your abundant provision of liberty and joy. Amen.

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