The Only Door

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV)

People who survive near-death experiences describe their entire life flashing before them in a matter of seconds. I find those stories fascinating, but what I am far more interested in is what the Bible calls the in-the-body experience.

First Corinthians 12:13 describes it this way. The moment the Spirit leads you to believe in Jesus, He places you into the Body of Christ. You can attend church your entire life, show up every Sunday, and still not be part of it. Attendance doesn't get you in. One moment of genuine faith in Jesus does.

This was not always possible. In the Old Testament, the Spirit comes upon people for specific tasks, but does not dwell in them permanently. The Church simply does not exist yet. That changes at Pentecost, when God's Spirit comes to live inside every follower of Jesus, and the Body of Christ is born.

And when the Spirit comes to live inside you, you don't receive a portion of God. You receive all of Him. Every resource of heaven, every ounce of His power, every promise He has ever made, is yours the moment you believe.

If you have been sitting in church your whole life but have never truly crossed that line, today is the day. Bow your head right now and tell Him you believe. That one moment of genuine faith is the only door into The Church that lasts forever.

And if you have already walked through that door, rest in what that means. When you believed, you received all of God and a permanent place in a family that will never end. That is the only door you will ever need.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that the moment I trusted Jesus, You placed Your very own Spirit inside of me, guaranteeing Your promises to come. I have a permanent place in the family. Thank You, Lord! May I walk in peace and joy as one who belongs to You forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen.