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| Photo Creds: http://www.telegraph.co.uk |
When I was a young girl, UFOs and aliens held great fascination for me and my friends. We would eagerly observe the sky and call out whenever we spied potential alien spacecraft. In elementary school, I formed a pact with my little boyfriend: if aliens attacked our world, we would get married and fight them together.
Those aliens were a childhood fantasy, but actual aliens have dwelt on Earth for thousands of years.
WE are those real aliens.
When we become followers of Christ, we cross out of death and into life. In this way, we are born again: “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV) As new creations filled with the Holy Spirit, we are no longer citizens of this world—“our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20 NIV). We belong to the kingdom of God and not to the world. We remain aliens here.
The question is:
Are we living as aliens, or have we settled ourselves comfortably at home on this earth?
Do we “live by the Spirit,” or do we still seek to “gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Gal. 5:16 NIV)?
As Christians, it is our responsibility to live according to our new identity in Christ (2 Cor. 5:15; Eph. 4:22–24 NIV). If we allow ourselves to remain engrossed in the values and concerns of this world, then we are building up treasure and investing our hearts in our temporary residence instead of our true eternal home (Matt. 6:19–21; 2 Cor. 5:1 NIV).
God did not make us new so we could busy ourselves living like nonbelievers until He calls us home. He has work for us to perform while we are here. God’s mission for us is to know Him and make Him known, as “Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Cor. 5:20 NIV).
If we are to serve as faithful representations of Christ, we must first understand His character. The most reliable source of information on God’s character is His Word. Through study of the Bible and through prayer, we can grow in our understanding of God’s nature, His kingdom, and His promises.
Let us align our lives with God’s ways, instead of our sinful human nature, so nonbelievers may perceive our purity, honesty, compassion, and loving-kindness and credit the One we follow (1 Peter 2:11–12; Matt. 5:16 NIV).
God’s Word is more than a guidebook for how to fulfill His purpose for us; it is “living and active” (Heb. 4:12 NIV). God uses His Word to work in us and through us. We do not need spaceships and laser guns to invade Earth. God gives us His Word, “the sword of the Spirit,” as our weapon, and He outfits us with “the belt of truth,” “the breastplate of righteousness,” “the shield of faith,” and “the helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:13–17 NIV).
It is time for us to take up our sword and shield and wage spiritual warfare on the battleground of human minds.
Will you take up your sword with me?!
Love,
Sheri
sheriyates.com 