I find that folks want to know what is “normal,” so to speak.
- Does a Christian fail a lot?
- Does he or she sin just a little?
- Maybe, less and less, or do we grow weaker with age and sin more?
- Where does our Achilles’ heel manifest itself?
- What is the operating mode for living above the fragility?
- Do we have a besetting sin? — Gray areas?
- Does the free volition function freely always, or is it hindered?
- Do most rebound from sin and failure regularly; agreeing with God about our sin, isolating sin from our true identity, forgetting what is past?
- Is it common to frequently commit the sin of unbelief in still living in guilt or regret?
- How’s the soul? Is there harmony?
- What branch of the soul dominates you?
- Are you an avid thinker, or a determiner; a feeling kind of person, or full of fear, or self-conscious?
- Are you positive or negative in your interpretations of life’s events?
- Do you frequently filter thoughts and scatter away unwanted ones? What is average?
- Is it reasonable to think that Christians will feel love for others at all times?
- If not, when and how much?
- Do we first react to situations, and is that regular?
- Can one respond to God in tough times?
- Can a believer love the unlovely or those who oppose?
These questions and many others are necessary for equilibrium; the spiritual kind.
How do we answer these, and how do we come to know what this equilibrium looks like? The hypothalamus of a brain has this very responsibility on a physical and soul level, both. It functions as a kind of thermostat, relying on things like temperature, but also chemical, electrical, magnetic, or hormonal signals. Without the hypothalamus things go awry. How does it work?
First, “peace that passes understanding” is the weighing scale of any well regulated believer. Some try to test the will of God by seeking peace, but inward peace should be the constant. Secondly, peace results from a “stayed on Christ” mind; there, it is kept in Isaiah 26:3. “I cannot do this constantly,” is the discouraging retort. Yes, we may need to use our mind for our work or details, but have we focused on Christ enough to produce a disposition, (attitude), of peace? Peace serves as a real buffer, a reliable measure of what is normal. It must be cultivated, recognized and trusted.
Next, peace rules in our heart in Colossians 3:15 and umpires our soul. It makes the call, strike 1, ball 2, etc. Frankly, we scrutinize as a fair or foul ball anything that hinders our spiritual homeostasis, immediately or eventually. Fourth, we discard the rejects by casting them down or confessing them as sin; all labile thoughts require arbitration in Philippians 4:8.
Friends, “Peace” originates with an open door to God in heaven, a joining; reconciliation has been made. Christ is Mediator between God and man and “Our Peace.”
In closing, the Old Testament Tabernacle resembles our brain function. The Brazen Altar is first, it conforms us to His death; Brazen Laver is ceremonial cleansing, a remembrance of the once and for all purging. The Holy Place has the Lamp-stand, Table of Showbread, and Altar of Incense. Communion with God through The Holy Spirit, Word, and prayer is here.
But now we are entering The Holy of Holies. Blood is before the Ark with Mercy Seat; blood is on the top of that same Mercy Seat. Hidden by the Mercy Seat and blood are the contents in the Ark. A pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the table of the Law; these reside there below. Man’s earthly provisions, his need for an earthly mediator, and an earthly rule of life are represented in these articles. But these are overridden, pushed downward, hidden from Our Father’s sight, by Blood.
So, a very mundane and natural point of reference disappears. By this place where Moses communed with God, attached feelings are hidden. From above! — From above the Mercy Seat. Mental health resides here, and our brain functions at highest peak. Not in the grovel of life, but, from this above place, communion, discernment, volitional freedom thrive. From up here we utilize all of Christ’s accomplishments gained at Calvary.
Peace won, we invigorate in a lively governing of our soul with our newly acquired equipment attending. We exist redeemed, we operate free. Here we mediate and discard the lower thoughts, here we place behind us any sins. Here, we regulate all equilibriums. We reign in life by one Jesus Christ. We have discovered freedom, normalcy, harmony of soul, unity, and all is at peace with God. love ya