Three Part Harmony - How, Why, What? Part II

Part II: “WHY”

“Why should we start a spiritual relationship with God?”
This may be one of the most important questions to be answered by those contemplating a spiritual path as part of their future. We often understand ‘how’ we respond to the people, events, or incidents in our lives. A true understanding of ‘why’ we do what we do often goes unnoticed before, during, or after we act.
 
Why should one consider starting (or re-starting) a spiritual relationship with God through acknowledgment of Christ Jesus? In simplest terms an active spiritual connection brings God’s guidance, counsel, blessings, and protection as well as a promise of everlasting spiritual life. Many scoff at this statement. So be it. Either one believes in God and His word and thereby acknowledges His Words to be true, or they don’t. For unbelievers there are no words, suggestions, or debates which may change their minds or a particular stance regarding spiritual acknowledgment of Christ Jesus.
 
So, why start a spiritual relationship? When you accept Christ into your life, He will send the “Spirit of Truth” (the same spirit that is God) to ‘activate’ (dwell with) your spirit. The Spirit of Truth is exactly that; a new realization of Truth’s presence in one’s life. Employing spiritual strength allows one to innately recognize both Truth and its antithesis forms; lies, deceit, falsehoods, fabrications. With knowledgeable awareness of Truth, the ‘veil’ of rationalized delusion is lifted.
 
We have each been given ‘free will’ choice and a mind for decision making. Although knowing or realizing this, truth does not automatically portend truthful grounded actions or responses. Truth reveals new understanding to statements, actions, responses, or activities in one’s life. Particularly those inherently false, fabrications, manipulations, or lies.
 
We each come into this world dependent on life support by our parents, siblings, grandparents, care givers. Those who accept responsibilities for our care and nurturing as babies, infants, children. At about age two we learn the power of the word “No”. We soon learn its adverse fallout. Consequential outcomes become well established norms in our mind through actions tied to ‘right vs. wrong.’ In every aspect of life, we soon learn right and wrong actions result in ‘rewards or punishments.’ The more accustom we become by experience the more we learn to identify ‘right and wrong’ actually means ‘reward or punishment.’ Whether legal systems, religions or through social interactions, right and wrong play out as reward or punishment.
 
Right vs. Wrong is inherently sound in its foundation but for many it can morph into a choice between “Will this decision result in a reward or punishment for me?” Its colloquial applications for some in our twenty-first century culture are, “it’s all about me” or, “what’s in it for me?” These can become the lead precursors to every decision made. At the core of “right or wrong” a grounded mindset tied to “reward or punishment” is focused on outcomes for self, first and foremost. A problem with this type of exculpatory living is it keeps us isolated in thought and direction.
 
Because God is Spirit and creator of the universe and all that is in it, including us, we are also spirit in our essence. As a unit of cosmic spiritual energy (soul) created by God we are conjoined with body and mind to become human. Our character and nature being formed by the humanity we come to know and embrace firsthand, ‘right vs. wrong’ are foundational for choice, action, or outcome. Our natural instinct is to consider how choice and consequence affect us directly, in the moment. (Again, “what’s in it for me?”)
 
God’s character and nature are grounded in morals and ethics, actionable by love and truth. Coming to know God we better understand morality and ethics rooted in every choice or decision. When we engage ‘free will’ choice by considering moral and/or ethical implications of our daily decisions we can extrapolate the benefit (or harm) any outcome may have. Not only to ourselves but as importantly toward other (family, friends, co-workers), people we care about. This is the power of spiritual strength when we have a spiritual relationship with God through Jesus Christ. By knowing to consider the morals and/or ethics of a decision the question is no longer, “what’s in it for me” (‘right vs wrong’).  We now understand ‘how and why’ morals and ethics are what’s in it for others?

Stay tuned for Part III.