There is a place without hope even for a believer in Jesus Christ. It is called the natural realm. A person who has accepted Jesus as their Savior and been cleansed of all sin, filled with His Holy Spirit, and been given unconditional access to the throne of grace could choose to live in a place of hopelessness. We have been called to live in a different reality.
It will cost you everything you call your own to live in the heavenly realm on this earth.
“Set your mind on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden in Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3 NIV
Your new life is a miracle and that miracle is meant to live in a special atmosphere to thrive. It is an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit speaks to you and unveils treasures coming to you from your union with Jesus Christ. The place where your mind and heart hopes now lives in the realm of the Holy Spirit. To put your hope in earthly things is unnatural for the believer made brand new in Christ.
Your hope is fueled by the holy and powerful Word of God. It is alive in its ability to perform the promises of God. Man’s words are not heavy and influential in the believer whose focus is on the heavenly realm.
You are called to dance in the throne room of grace with Him. Your joy becomes His to give. Your purpose is His to lead. His peace is given as a gift to you with no regard to natural circumstances. In the heavenly-realm-life there is rest because you are joined to the One with all authority and in this place you are held and healed.
The heavenly realm can also be called the kingdom of God on this earth.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 NIV
The righteousness needed to live and move freely in the heavenly realm here on earth has been given to you as a gift through the finished works of Jesus. His salvation gift to you is absolutely perfect. Your work now is simply to believe. Your work is not to get in right standing or busily get others in right standing. Your work is to be intimately aware of the access granted to you to enter the Holiest of Holies-the throne room of the Almighty- and stay there.
As we travel on our journey of life here on earth, we walk through the dust. We are heaven’s citizens walking among the dust of the natural realm. It is going to get on you.
The dust is what is common to man, saved and unsaved. They are loose particles caused by sin that have no home and cling to mankind.
Dust: death, shame, grief, doubt, frustration, bitterness, annoyances, weakness, anger, offence, pain, pride, sadness, lack, illness, hunger, fear…
Jesus told us we have a choice to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”. We can travel in the natural realm, carrying the dust of the earth, and let the heaviness of it rob us of hope, or we can bring ourselves into the center of Yahweh’s Presence, the center of His kingdom realm- the holiest place, along with the dust that clings to us.
In the temple of God (the one designed after the new creation temple which is now in you) the high priest would enter God’s Presence, the holiest place, in a cloud of incense.
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” Psalm 141:2 NIV
“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God from the angel's hand.” Revelation 8:4
Prayer surrounds you in a cloud of incense as you come into His Presence.
Prayer is vital. Your call is to pray continuously. When you see your life from heaven’s perspective prayer is your greatest treasure here on earth. Prayer moves you and moves your Heavenly Father. Prayer is a lifeline to the heavenly realm you are called to live in. Never forsake prayer for any other holy or unholy thing.
Prayer surrounds you in a cloud of incense as you come into His Presence.
Prayer always begins with removing our sandals of self-righteousness: “I need you , Lord.”
Prayer is a time to sacrifice everything you call your own. We let go of any self life: our natural abilities and weaknesses are laid before Him. Our natural mind and its solutions are released to Him.
Repentance is a beautiful posture as we pray. Our head tucks into our Fathers arm…There is acknowledgement of God’s great love, His great authority, His great plan for us and the world.
“Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him; all things live through Him, all things center and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).” Romans 11:33,36 AMP
Our prayer is a holy scent and the God of the Universe loves when you come to Him surrounded with the incense of prayer. He is never put off by the dust of the earth. He has a perfect plan to cleanse you of it. But we don’t focus on the dust, we focus on Him.
“Now may the God of Peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy.
And may your entire being- spirit, soul, and body-be kept flawless (dustless) until the appearance of our Lord Jesus…” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 TPT
And the dust is washed away in His Presence! Where you have walked, your past and the dust that clings to your feet, is washed by the Savior.
The dust is not a problem when it is washed in the Holy Place. Do not make it bigger than His Presence. Chasing the dust is a never ending, frustrating task. Allow God to wash you in His holiness…everyday. Cling to Him. If the dust appears to stay, just trust that your heavenly Father is cleansing you as you place Him first. His words wash over you and accomplish the promises.
Remember that the dust was given to Satan as his food. “Cursed are you…you will eat dust all the days of your life.” Genesis 3:14 NIV
Dust is the enemy’s food.
When a believer focuses on the natural realm and the dust that fills it- the enemy of your soul is near. He feeds on the dust of the earth. The deceiver’s presence will always bring hopelessness. At every opportunity he will remind you how pitiful you look.
But we hear the voice of our good Shepherd, Jesus, “Go and learn what this means; ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance…” (Matthew 9:13 KJV) His mercy is calling you to return to Him.
Two of the greatest qualities of God's character are loving-kindness and mercy. His mercy has put us in right standing with Him. The blood of Jesus is right there in the holiest of holies on a seat of mercy. The blood of Jesus is His sacrifice given to you and His mercy is the wrapping. It is more powerful than anything you can do to cleanse yourself. Above all is His cleansing mercy.
As you come to the place of intimate prayer with the Father, in the temple of your innermost being, there is an outer court you must pass through. Just like the “den of thieves” Jesus spoke of when He overturned their tables in the outer court of the temple in Jerusalem (Mark 11:15-17)…these are voices that disqualify you from coming in and being perfectly cleansed. “You are a mess and the Father doesn't want you around Him unless you pay the price!” “You can’t help but sin, it is your nature! Do this penance!” “Buy all you can to redeem your painful failures!” “Only the good church people can go past here!”
Walk past these “reasonings” to enter the throne room Jesus paid the price for you to enter-dust and all- and get a fresh baptism of His love.
His perfect gifts of righteousness, peace and love qualify you to operate right now in the kingdom realm.
“And now these three remain: Faith (Jesus), Hope (Holy Spirit) and Love (Father God). But the greatest of these is LOVE.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
“Wake up! Open you eyes! Beautiful Zion, put on your majestic strength! Jerusalem, the sacred city, put on your glory garments! Never again will the unclean enter your gates! Arise and shake off your dust!
Sit enthroned Jerusalem! Break off your shackles of bondage from your neck, you captive daughter of Zion! For this is what Yahweh has to say: You were sold for nothing; now you will be redeemed without any payment.” Isaiah 52: 1-3 TPT
“Your hearts can soar with joyful gratitude when you think of how God made you worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to us by living in the light.
He has rescued us completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom realm of His beloved Son.
For in the Son all our sins are canceled and we have the release of redemption through His very blood.” Colossians 1:12-14 TPT
You are so deeply loved!
Not one person on earth has lived free of the “dust” of the earth- we all have experienced it. Our choice as believers is to look to the heavenly realm where we are citizens. We look and are washed of all the heaviness. And hope returns.
My prayers are over you…that you would personally experience this cleansing river of love that continually flows toward you. Your spirit is a reservoir waiting to be filled with the fullness of God. Come to the inner room where His Presence cares for you. Take a moment right now to pray. His arms are ready.
At first I misread, "removing our sandals of self-righteousness" as "removing our scandal of self-righteousness" and I was like, "Yes! The idea that we can achieve righteousness on our own IS the scandal of all humanity!"
Your revelation about dust follows me throughout scripture. Every time I read that word I think of what you've shared about the dust here! Excellent.