Your Present Afterlife: Living in the Spirit Today
Inspired by The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn, this reflection invites us to consider a profound truth: the kingdom of heaven isn’t just a distant, future reality—it’s a present experience for those who walk in faith and ‘In Christ’. The key? Dying to our old, earthly selves now, so we can live in the heavenly life here on earth.
The Mountain of Revelation
Imagine sitting atop a high mountain, gazing into the horizon as the sunset paints the sky with orange hues. From this vantage point, the peaks stretch endlessly, symbolizing the vastness of God's creation and the eternal realm.
In this setting, a question arises: How do we enter heaven? The simple answer is death—our physical death leads us into the afterlife. But the deeper truth, as the teacher explains, is that there is a way to enter heaven while still living—by dying before we die.
Heaven: Both Now and Yet to Come
The New Testament presents the kingdom of heaven as both a future promise and a present reality. Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is "within you" (Luke 17:21), and Paul echoes this in his writings. Heaven is not only what awaits us after death but is also something we can experience here and now through spiritual transformation.
The teacher emphasizes that to enter the heavenly realm, we must leave behind the flesh, the earthly, the imperfect—things of the old self—and embrace the spirit, the new self designed by Christ.
The Paradox of Dying to Live
The core insight is this: If you wait until death to die to your old self, you will miss the life Christ offers now. The secret is to die to the flesh today, in this life, so you can live in the Spirit—to experience heaven’s reality here and now.
This is not about physical death but a spiritual death—letting go of selfishness, pride, fear, and worldly attachments. As Paul declares:
Romans 6:4-11:
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead… we also should walk in newness of life… knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin… Count yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in ‘Christ Jesus’.”
In other words, we are invited to reckon ourselves dead to the old way of life and alive in Christ’s resurrection power.
Living the Heavenly Life
Romans 8:10-14 reminds us:
“If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Living in the Spirit transforms our daily existence, making heaven a present reality.
Galatians 2:20 echoes this:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God.”
Our identity is shifted from the earthly to the heavenly, from self-centered to Christ-centered living.
Colossians 3:1-9 urges us:
“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things… Put to death your members which are on the earth… therefore, put away anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language.”
Living in heaven begins with a conscious choice to die to the old self daily.
How to Enter Your Afterlife Now
The message is clear: Live as if your life is over—dead to the flesh, alive in Christ. This is the secret to experiencing heaven today, even in the midst of life's trials.
The mission:
Die to selfishness, pride, and worldly desires.
Embrace the Spirit of Christ daily.
Live in the heavenly reality now, not just in the future.
Conclusion
Your present afterlife is not merely a hope for the future but a divine invitation to live in the reality of heaven today. By dying to the flesh and living in the Spirit, you open the door to eternal life—here and now. Remember, Jesus didn’t just come to save your soul for eternity but to transform your life from the inside out, starting today.
Let us walk in this heavenly life—dying to the old, living in the new, and experiencing the fullness of God’s kingdom here and now.
Inspired by The Book Of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn