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within (see II Corinthians 13:5). Once the believer sees the Lord at work within they often weep. It is
such an encouragement!
Let's look at the alternative of Christ in us and us in Christ. If Christ's life isn't IN us then we are to be
pitied. His life is real and sets captives free. The alternative to Christ within is Christ without. The
believer is without hope. The believer is without power. The believer is without purpose. Christ becomes
a leader from without, another dictator with no personal connection. People are not looking for another
voice making unrealistic demands. They want LIFE, a life that works. Where does this life originate?
The Exchanged Life Is:
Life In And From Another Realm
Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the
light. He has delivered us (translated us in the KJV) into the kingdom of the Son of His love."
(Colossians 1:12, 13) Do you see this? We are here (on earth), but we are also there (In the Kingdom of
His Son)! In the physical realm we can be subject to darkness, death, and demons, but in the spiritual
realm we are already in the kingdom of light, life, and the Lord of love. We are earth walkers and
kingdom dwellers simultaneously (Just like Jesus!). To be translated, as the King James Bible says, is to
be exchanged. The Greek word methistemi means to transfer, carry away, depose, exchange, remove,
translate, or turn away. What has been transferred, carried away, deposed, exchanged, removed,
translated, or turned away?
In the spiritual realm we have already transferred or exchanged our earthly citizenship for heavenly
citizenship. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the
world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (John 15:19)
It is the earthly reign of God's Kingdom manifested in the life of His subject that distinguishes the
believer from just another earthly person. Because our citizenship is in heaven we are to act according to
our heritage. Our lives are to be different from those who are not of God's Kingdom. We become His
ambassadors to a "crooked and perverse generation" (Philippians 2:15). As ambassadors we say and do
what the King desires. We are His representatives. We are not to say what we want to say on our own
initiative or do what we want to do on our own initiative. We are to say and do what He wants. Jesus put
it this way "as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do" (John 14:31). That's what it means to be
a part of a Kingdom. The King has absolute authority over life and death. His people do His will.
Likewise, His enemies are His people's enemies. This Kingdom truth has two elements. One element
is the truth that His resources are available to fight His enemies. His life (and its resources) are in His
subjects. Remember the last exchanged life truth Christ in you? This is the practical out working of that
truth. The other element is that as His subjects we are protected from the onslaught of His enemies. This
is the practical out working of the exchanged life truth of you in Christ. It is so reassuring to know "who
wins" in the spiritual battle. Confidence comes from knowing such things. It is not a misplaced
confidence like "I can do it!!" It is a confidence based on the One who can do it -- the King of all
creation!!! Big battles are nothing to a Big God. If there seems to be too many defeats in your life you
may want to consider that perhaps your God is too small. God is bigger than anything you may
encounter. Will you believe and trust Him to meet what your circumstances demand? Remember, the
battle is the Lord's, He will fight for you.
Let's look at the alternative. If we haven't been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the
kingdom of the Son, then again we are a people to be most pitied. We would have a king but no power.
We would have a lord with no ability to obey. We would have to protect ourselves from the onslaught of
the evil one. We would have to reach deep into ourselves for resources that are at best limited and weak.
Interestingly and sadly, this describes how many believers live. They live a life that is limited to the
earthly realm and not the life that God intended and has so richly given.
such an encouragement!
Let's look at the alternative of Christ in us and us in Christ. If Christ's life isn't IN us then we are to be
pitied. His life is real and sets captives free. The alternative to Christ within is Christ without. The
believer is without hope. The believer is without power. The believer is without purpose. Christ becomes
a leader from without, another dictator with no personal connection. People are not looking for another
voice making unrealistic demands. They want LIFE, a life that works. Where does this life originate?
The Exchanged Life Is:
Life In And From Another Realm
Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the
light. He has delivered us (translated us in the KJV) into the kingdom of the Son of His love."
(Colossians 1:12, 13) Do you see this? We are here (on earth), but we are also there (In the Kingdom of
His Son)! In the physical realm we can be subject to darkness, death, and demons, but in the spiritual
realm we are already in the kingdom of light, life, and the Lord of love. We are earth walkers and
kingdom dwellers simultaneously (Just like Jesus!). To be translated, as the King James Bible says, is to
be exchanged. The Greek word methistemi means to transfer, carry away, depose, exchange, remove,
translate, or turn away. What has been transferred, carried away, deposed, exchanged, removed,
translated, or turned away?
In the spiritual realm we have already transferred or exchanged our earthly citizenship for heavenly
citizenship. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the
world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (John 15:19)
It is the earthly reign of God's Kingdom manifested in the life of His subject that distinguishes the
believer from just another earthly person. Because our citizenship is in heaven we are to act according to
our heritage. Our lives are to be different from those who are not of God's Kingdom. We become His
ambassadors to a "crooked and perverse generation" (Philippians 2:15). As ambassadors we say and do
what the King desires. We are His representatives. We are not to say what we want to say on our own
initiative or do what we want to do on our own initiative. We are to say and do what He wants. Jesus put
it this way "as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do" (John 14:31). That's what it means to be
a part of a Kingdom. The King has absolute authority over life and death. His people do His will.
Likewise, His enemies are His people's enemies. This Kingdom truth has two elements. One element
is the truth that His resources are available to fight His enemies. His life (and its resources) are in His
subjects. Remember the last exchanged life truth Christ in you? This is the practical out working of that
truth. The other element is that as His subjects we are protected from the onslaught of His enemies. This
is the practical out working of the exchanged life truth of you in Christ. It is so reassuring to know "who
wins" in the spiritual battle. Confidence comes from knowing such things. It is not a misplaced
confidence like "I can do it!!" It is a confidence based on the One who can do it -- the King of all
creation!!! Big battles are nothing to a Big God. If there seems to be too many defeats in your life you
may want to consider that perhaps your God is too small. God is bigger than anything you may
encounter. Will you believe and trust Him to meet what your circumstances demand? Remember, the
battle is the Lord's, He will fight for you.
Let's look at the alternative. If we haven't been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the
kingdom of the Son, then again we are a people to be most pitied. We would have a king but no power.
We would have a lord with no ability to obey. We would have to protect ourselves from the onslaught of
the evil one. We would have to reach deep into ourselves for resources that are at best limited and weak.
Interestingly and sadly, this describes how many believers live. They live a life that is limited to the
earthly realm and not the life that God intended and has so richly given.
