Life on the highest plane

I have been reading Life on the Highest Plane by Ruth Paxson for a few months a few pages each day. It is so rich I thought I’d share it with you over the next few weeks.

Ruth begins by describing three kinds of people—natural, spiritual, and carnal which based on Apostle Paul’s writings.

Natural person

What is the natural person like? The natural, unregenerate person cannot comprehend the mind of God, has no desire for God, nor cares what God thinks. The natural person is lost, guilty, and living in darkness without realizing it. Although that person may believe in God, he is separated from God and cannot reconcile himself to God. The Bible is confusing. 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 3:10, 23; Ephesians 4:8

Spiritual person

The spiritual person has accepted Jesus Christ as his/her savior, has been born again, and knows they are a child of God. The spiritual person has been reconciled to God and has a supernatural peace. 2 Cor. 5:21 The Bible makes sense to that person, and they can communicate with God. 1 Corinthians 2:12; John 3:7; 1:12. As they continually yield to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, they feel complete and free. They are living life on the highest plane.

Carnal person

The third type of person is the carnal person. This person has been born again but does not continually yield to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Self is still on the throne of their life. Living independently of God they are their own boss and only listen to God when they feel the need. Romans 6:13 They have no peace. They belong to God, but they don’t want to submit to Him. There is conflict. Tension. Guilt. That person rides the fence trying to live both spiritually and naturally. Romans 7:24

Ruth takes the reader back to the beginning when Adam and Eve were spiritual. They were in a right relationship with God. Created by Him and for Him, their lives were in complete harmony. They were loved and had a close friendship with God. Their life had significance and fulfillment.

That is until Satan deceived them. How did that happen? Just like with us today, he appealed to their senses, to what might look good, not with some big, blatant sin. Rather it was a small question. He got them to doubt God’s love for them and to distrust God by telling them God was withholding something good from them.

The right to choose.

They could choose Godward or Satanward. Their sin was choosing Satanward. Wrong choice. In so doing, they placed their trust in Satan by believing him. Immediately, they felt the separation. Nothing they could do would repair that. Every person beyond childhood feels that separation but does not recognize it for what it is. Life is spent trying to find meaning and fulfillment in that state of separation.

In making their choice, they cut themselves off from God. That spiritual line of communion was severed and they couldn’t repair it. They would produce offspring that would have the same predisposition to choose Satan, or at least to live independently of God, to make their own decisions.

What was the result of that seemingly trivial choice of disobeying God, by listening to Satan, and eating of the forbidden fruit? A great chasm was opened that forever separated them from God.

Fundamental Change

What happened to the person? Where the spirit was connected to God and in control of the soul and body, the soul was now in control of the spirit and body causing much distortion and selfish living.       

In the natural state, the will and emotions are under the control of the soul. A natural person is not anchored to the truth. They are blinded to the truth. Lost. Separated from their creator.

Words to light your path

“…no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…”  Ephesians 4:17-18 NKJV    

What does all this mean to us, you ask? To find out what kind of person we are we only need to look into the Bible. Are we spiritually alive to God, or are we spiritually dead and cut off from God? Maybe we are trying to ride the fence, part-time spiritual and part-time natural. That person, the carnal person, is miserable.

Are you separated from God? He has provided a way to bridge that great chasm separating the natural person from God. It was by grace that we can be reconciled to God.

Next week we will explore how Jesus bridged the gap between God and us.

Creator God, may our eyes be opened to the truth about who You are, who we are, and who You want us to be.