The Divine Energy

C. S. Lewis once wrote, "If we want to possess the Divine Energy, we must get very close to, or even into, the thing that has it." (I am quoting him from memory, so I may not have the exact wording here, but it's close enough.)

The church-- the gathering of those who have "put on" Christ Jesus--- was born on Pentecost, with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.  From them, the energy spread to 3000 people who heard their words that day.  And from that 3000, that energy was carried to the ends of the earth, reaching down 2000 + years even to us today.

Being a Christian means "putting on Jesus."  It does not mean striving to be holy or perfect, but rather allowing His energy to permeate our lives and penetrate our thoughts in everything we do.  Paul tells us that we "have the mind of Christ."  In order to have the attitude, or mindset, of Christ, we must have His Spirit influencing our minds, as well as our bodies: just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man (Adam), so let us bear the likeness of the man from heaven (Jesus) (1 Cor. 15:49).

The book of Galatians tells us that "all who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ." Now, if we have been "clothed" with Christ, His Spirit animates us in thought, word, and deed.  It is not that we have suddenly become perfect; but rather, that the Spirit of Christ continues to work in us until He has made us perfect.  Much has to be destroyed in the process, for at one time, we were all subject to the "ways of this world and to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:1).

In other words, either we are living by the energy of Christ at work in us or we continue to live by the energy that animates the world around us.  The energy unleashed at Pentecost transformed the world for all time; it can transform us as well.  The book of Ephesians (3:20) contains a sentence that should encourage us daily:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

If we imagine that somehow "we" have to "do" Christianity, we are hopelessly lost and incompetent.  That is the meaning of saying we are sinners -- we have not within ourselves the least capacity to reach God.  But He has seen our helplessness and sent His Son into our hearts to do the impossible.  He has raised us in Him from dead works to joyful living.  C.S. Lewis is exactly right -- if we want the energy of God, we must get near to, or even into, the thing that has it -- Jesus Christ.