WE MUST LINGER another day on the thought that this being in Christ is not a theological figure of speech, but a fact—the most important fact in the universe, barring none. Being in Christ is as definite a thing spiritually as being in the United States of America is a definite thing geographically and spiritually. Being in the United States, really in, brings you under its laws, its culture, its history, its outlook, its spirit. You can be in the United States geographically but not in it spiritually. You can be out of harmony with it, in inner revolt against it.
When I was a young Christian I went to a tent meeting and there was a great deal of uncontrolled emotion. The evangelist, under whom I was converted, saw me the next day and said, “Were you in the meeting last night?” I replied, “I was there, but I wasn’t ‘in’ it.” Physically I was there, but spiritually I was out of harmony.
Being in Christ is so real a condition that if you are not spiritually in, you are not in Christ at all. If you have adopted tempers and attitudes out of harmony with Him, you are not in Him at all. You have stepped out.
I have seen people step in and out of Christ, and the difference was registered clearly on their faces. They were different people. Some people are in themselves, tied up with themselves, bounded by themselves, choking with themselves; then I’ve seen those same people step out of themselves by surrender and, in a moment, they were in Christ and they were entirely different beings. Nothing the same except their name. When you are in Christ you come under a new set of laws of life, new attitudes, new culture, new outlook, new spirit. You are a citizen of a new country. You inherit the resources of Christ. Everything that belongs to Him belongs to you.
O Christ, my Lord, I step out of my poverty into Thy riches; out of my sin into Thy goodness; out of my sickness into Thy health, out of my nothingness into Thy allness. In Thee I am rich, good, well, and full beyond telling. I thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: In Christ I am alive, out of Christ I’m dead—enough said!
