He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.” John 8:23 NABRE
Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders and claims they are of the world below and He is from the world above. Jesus is using language that He hopes will be understood but even today may be difficult. When Jesus speaks about this world He is indicating we are caught up in the routines the secular world deems most important. A life of getting educated, landing a great job, having a family and living a long beautiful life caring for ourselves and our family. There is nothing wrong with this life, it is likely very foundational and necessary to live in the world. But Jesus has another view that we can belong to the world above. Of course Jesus is talking about a world that includes God, what He often calls the kingdom of God, or kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of God is available to us if we accept that we desire unity with God. We often hear the language of salvation for followers of Jesus. I am saved because I believe in Jesus. Salvation from Jesus’ perspective is a conscious experience of union with God, this is what happens in the kingdom of God. It is not another life or another world it is available here and now if we trust and believe we can experience this union with God. Jesus always has this conscious experience of union with God. What might take us away from this kingdom of God is being overly focused on worldly success and attainment. In the kingdom of God, union is the highest level of attainment and there will come a tipping point when there are enough people conscious of this union which will in fact bring the coming of Christ, again.
Do you belong to the world above or this world? Are you aware of your unity with God?
In the kingdom of God, union is the highest level of attainment and there will come a tipping point when there are enough people conscious of this union which will in fact bring the coming of Christ, again. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #unity #kingdom #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways