The Two Environments of a Christian

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ… — 1 Thessalonians 1:1

When Paul addressed the Thessalonian Christians, he spoke of them living in TWO locations. Geographically, they were living in Thessalonica on earth. Spiritually, they are “in Christ.”  Paul said in Ephesians 2 we live in the world, but we are also seated “in heavenly place in Christ Jesus.”

Christians live in two worlds—A visible world and invisible world—A physical environment on earth and a spiritual environment in the heavenlies.

The sustaining of our spiritual life is similar to that of a whale.  A whale lives in a marine environment.  I live in Washington State, by the Puget Sound.  We are often fortunate to see a pod of Orca whales swim near our city.  It is always an impressive site to behold.

A whale would swim along water’s surface for a while.  Before submerging, it would breathe deeply and exhale by shooting up a spectacular spout then disappear beneath the surface in search of food.  That whale could stay under the water for 10-15 minutes, but must resurface for more oxygen or it would die.

The whale doesn’t know much about the world above the water, since most of it’s existence in spent in the water. Yet, although it knows little about the world above him, it still needs regular contact with it to survive.

This is a great picture of the Christians life. We know relatively little about the heavenly realm above us, since most of our activities concern  things on earth. Yet, we must stay in constant contact with the world above us for spiritual breath to maintain our growth in the Lord. That heavenly contact is made through prayer, worship, and nourishment from God’s Word.

While your citizenship in heaven, you live on earth now.  Therefore, in order to grow spiritually stay in regular contact with your heavenly home and heavenly Father.