How would you like to be able to choose to be in God’s presence? How would you like to be able to step into heaven, even while you are buried in some heavy-duty workload, mess or upheaval? You can be “in the zone” of your own choosing, and that ‘zone’ can be the very throne-room of God.
We’ve discussed in previous posts on being “in the zone” how that we each have multiple zones to choose from. We have the ability, either by our own internal resolve, or by the use of external support measures, to switch from one zone to a better one.
It is as if we each live in a room with multiple doorways leading out of it. Most of the time we leave those doors closed and stay in the room that we find ourselves in. Our moods and the influences which sweep into our lives dictate what ‘zone’ we are in. Most of us are poor at the skill of changing our zone or pushing our way through different doorways out of where we are currently at.
Most of us have doors, even open doors in our life, which we never go through. Like having a ticket to the movies but never going. Like having an invitation to drop in to visit someone, but never making the effort. Like having family members we never take the time to talk and share with, because we are too preoccupied with our emotions, our challenges, our goals, or whatever. And isn’t that how it is for many people? Life slips past them, with gazillions of unexplored opportunities.
And that situation is just as real in terms of our spiritual experiences. There are ‘heavenly zones’ which we can enter into, some of them as doors which are wide open, yet which we never go through.
Salvation is one of those doors open to people. But many choose to press on in another zone, than in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. So they do just about anything but enter that life-transforming zone of becoming a new creature through faith.
For those who are Christians a bunch of new doors are open, which they may never ever access. They may be ignorant of the possibilities or fearful of going somewhere new. Whatever the reason, they can be locked away from God’s best for them.
Pentecostal Healing Evangelist Harry Greenwood, an English preacher gifted in playing the tambourine (a skill he reluctantly demonstrated from time to time), wrote a series of short booklets which he gave away, entitled, “Letters to the Imprisoned Saints”. Significant about these books was the cover artwork, a man in a prison cell looking wistfully through the window bars, while there, in the background, it was clear to see that the prison door was wide open. If only the man had turned around he would have discovered he was already free. So that was the purpose of the booklets, to lead people into the freedom already purchased for them. [I heard Harry Greenwood preach and play the tambourine in Sydney in about 1972, and I worked on a book stall about that time where Harry’s books were available. I have a couple of the booklets in a box somewhere.]
So, what are the ‘heavenly zones’ which Christians can enter into? Well, here are a few to take note of. We are “seated in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 2:6). Somehow we are actually connected to the heavens through Christ, even though we are living our natural life on earth. We also have access to the “throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). We are able to come boldly before God and ask for grace when we need it. We have a wonderful place of complete acceptance “in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). We can run in to the “name of the Lord” as our strong tower and place of shelter (Proverbs 18:10). We are able to be safe under God’s wings (Psalm 91:4).
On this last point, I recall the testimony I heard in the early 1970’s of a young woman walking home from a church meeting late one night. She heard footsteps behind her and quickened her pace. The footsteps also quickened and she ended up running in fear. She ran into a subway, hoping to find people on the train platform who could help her, but it was empty. She ran along the platform until there was nowhere to go. At that point, remembering what she had been taught about God’s protection she turned to face those chasing her and announced, “I’m covered in feathers!” Her assailants turned and ran away.
She had gone through a door, as it were, and accessed the protection that was hers, only because of the dire circumstances she was in. Otherwise she might never have discovered the powerful reality of a ‘heavenly zone’ available to her.
I’m going to leave this post here and yet I have more to say. Next time I want to show you how godly men in the Bible activated the process of switching heavenly zones. It’s something we can all do and it’s part of the life more abundant that is yours to enjoy as a Christian.