Summer 1992

Going Deeper
Wade E Taylor

Our spiritual life is far more than the sum of the spiritual information we have gathered, or of any collection of our spiritual experiences. The foundation of our spiritual life (or lack of it) is the accumulative result of the decisions and choices we have made in our spiritual journey. The core and substance of our spirituality relates to the unity of heart and spirit gained through our making right choices and decisions.

Making these right choices and decisions is never easy. No matter who, or where we are, we must make decisions as to what we will do, or where we will go. The ever present temptation is to compromise and go along with the questionable or difficult situations that we often find ourselves in.

Many times each day, we make (seemingly to us) "little" decisions that feed either the carnal, or the spiritual aspect of our being. The accumulation of these choices result in our becoming either carnal, or spiritual.

As our spiritual decisions outweigh, in some measure, the negative pulls, we become an overcomer. To the extent that we rise above carnal soulish desires, we are lifted into a place of union with our Lord and we grow spiritually.

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me
in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set
down with My Father in His Throne" Rev 3:21.

Our position with Him in this "Throne" relationship is the result of our overcoming (rising above) all that is earthly and carnal. We are given this privilege of being seated with Him (as His Bride) in His Throne as a result of an accumulation of right decisions and choices (being an overcomer).

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him:
for the marriage of the Lamb is come,
and his wife hath made herself ready" Rev 19:7

The more decisions we make that are towards the Lord, the easier it becomes to make these decisions. The further down the road we go in our walk with Him, the more detached we become from all that is carnal, or a temptation to us. In the beginning, it will be difficult, but as we progress, it will become easier.

The pathway of our spiritual life can be considered as being an upward spiral. If we take a large wood screw and place one of our finger nails at the edge near the point and run it along the surface, we will gradually progress to the head. Though it may seem to us that we are going in circles, as we continue to make right decisions, we are progressively moving upward. If we do this in reverse and feed the carnal aspect of our being, it will lead us ever downward.

There are those who bear witness of having within them a quality of spiritual life. It may not be apparent as to why this is so, but if inquired into, these would testify that through the struggles of life, they have been making quality decisions of spirit, which is bringing them into an increasing fellowship with the Lord in His Throne.

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable
to God, and approved of men" Rom 14"17-18.

The Kingdom of God begins with righteousness. As we make the right choices, we place ourselves on a "platform" called righteousness. Due to an accumulation of these righteous choices, we discover within us an abiding innerpeace. This results in the approbation, or favor of God, and joyis manifested.

Our submission to His government will lead to our becoming a partaker with Him in His Throne. In this realm, our decisions do not have as much to do with right or wrong as they have to do with the motives that underlie right and wrong. It is here that the final test of our union with Him will find its outworking. If we truly overcome in this area of our being, we will in that day find ourselves seated with Him in His Throne.

First, we are tested concerning right or wrong. Then, as we progress up the spiral, we are tested in the motives of the heart which provoke the things hat manifest as right or wrong. It is not enough to deny the "thing," we must overcome the very principle that allows it to abide within us and assert itself.

Those who are satisfied with being blessed and going to heaven have their reward (streets like gold and mansions). But for those who intensely hunger for this deeper level of spiritual reality, there is much more. These, in the place of pressure, will deal with the issues of their heart, so in that day, as an overcomer, they will be found in the Throne, seated with Him (Rev 3:21).

The Lord is greatly glorified and pleased with each one who is choosing to overcome, thereby becoming an overcomer.