Spiritual Survival in the Coming Days 12

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20—NIV)

I am not making all this up. This is the reality of the future. Best read the Scriptures for yourself and see if I have overemphasized the danger we all are facing if we do not lay down our life for Christ and God, placing everything on the altar of God that He may do with us, and with that which belongs to us, as He pleases.

If we are to survive spiritually in the coming days we must set aside a specific time for prayer on a daily basis.

If we are to survive spiritually in the coming days we must continually meditate in the Scriptures, memorizing them, finding out what God has promised, studying them to determine if our faith is founded on the Scriptures or merely on the traditions of our group.

If we are to survive spiritually in the coming days we must place everything on the altar of God. We must deny ourselves, take up our personal cross, dwell in our personal prison, and follow Jesus diligently and faithfully until He releases us. We must put our treasures in Heaven, not on the earth where they can be ruined or removed from us.

Live In and By Christ

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4—NIV)

What does it mean to "remain in Christ," to "abide in Christ"?

When Christ spoke this to His disciples, it was not possible for them to remain in Christ. Christ was a person and they were people—separate individuals. They could not live "in" Jesus.

Since Christ was crucified and rose from the dead, it now is possible for us to live in Christ and Christ to live in us. We can live "in" Jesus.

But what does it mean to live "in" Jesus and Jesus "in" us?

I would submit this does not mean merely that we keep on believing the theological facts pertaining to salvation. I think it means in the spirit realm it is possible for one person to live within the personality of another.

We say we believe Christ lives in our heart. Are we living in Christ's heart, for it is a two-way street?

In the Book of Revelation Christ says He stands at the door of the human heart and requests admittance.

In the Jewish feast of Tabernacles, the worshiper spends time in a booth made from wood and paper. He is dwelling "in" God, in a figure.

The Father's House is Jesus Christ Himself and those who are part of Christ. Christ through His death on the cross has made it possible for us to dwell in God through Christ and for Christ to live in us.

Paul claimed that he was no longer living but Christ was living in him.

The Lord Jesus prayed that we might be one with each other in Christ in God as Christ and the Father are One.

Here surely is the supreme mystery and end of the Gospel—that Christ is in us, the Hope of glory.

To continued. Spiritual Survival in the Coming Days 13