Living in the Reality of Jesus

  1 John 2:1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. ² He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. ³ And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.⁴ If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. ⁵ But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. ⁶ Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
The reality of a person who is a born again believer in Jesus Christ is much different than the reality of a person who isn't a believer.  I can hear you now saying, "No Duh!"  And you are right in saying that because it is a given that we pursue a deeper walk with God that involves living in the righteousness He has given us through death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Son.  In 1 John chapter 2, John is very clear that he is writing these words so we will not sin and then he says a very pivotal word for all of us who know Christ.  The word is BUT.  A person who is pursuing a deeper walk with God will almost miss the word BUT,  and the reason for them missing it is Jesus.  When we live in the reality of Jesus and our relationship with Him is ever-growing and ever-deepening, it changes our "approach" to life itself.  We begin to see the radical change the righteousness of God makes on our daily walk and that change is accompanied by a pure heart and a heart for service.  We are different as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, ¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  There it is "the change."  When we step into the reality of a relationship with Jesus Christ we are changed at the core of our being.  When God was looking for a king who would replace Saul, He was drawn to David because He was a man after God's own heart.  1 Samuel 13:¹⁴ But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”  
When we live in the reality of Jesus it changes our heart to get in line with the heart and way and will of Him and His way of thinking and living.  Praise God!!  That is a reality I can handle.....most of the time.  The natural man is still trying to reestablish territory in my life and we are constantly pushing that man away from controlling anything in our life.  When I begin to feel the natural man trying to take over I pray to God and ask Him to give me a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and He always comes through.... of course.  1 Corinthians 2: ¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.  Living in the reality of Jesus pulls us into a life that is constantly growing, even through tough times and how we respond to these tough times can either help us grow or fall away. Since we are Spiritual-minded and Spirit guided people we are capable of handling the old nature that used to be us.  We handle it by turning to Jesus every time...Did you get that word?  EVERY time!!!
¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual[a] can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. If you are struggling to grow in the Lord and the old life is beating up on your new life in Christ, you need to immerse yourself in the "reality of Jesus."  Begin by getting your relationship current with God.  Psalm 51:10 says it all.  Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Then live out of that forgiveness and see how much more real Jesus is to you and then you will see what it means to live in The Reality of Jesus.
The Pilgrimage continues....
David Warren