This world we live in appears, to all our senses, to be reality. We know from God’s Word that this is not reality. In fact, we know from science this is not reality. According to science, the physical world is actually made up of energy. Additionally, many scientists have come to believe the physical world is merely a digital simulation of reality. Yet, we have an obsessive preoccupation with that which appears to be real, while ignoring that which is truly real!
After more than 50 years in ministry, I have noticed that many committed believers lose their passion for God and their pursuit of the Kingdom, not because of horrific sin but because of distractions! Distraction: a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else.
In His parables, Jesus teaches that it is essential to maintain a sense of expectation concerning His return. According to His own words, parables were the unique communication tools He employed to convey truths about Kingdom living.
Kingdom living is far more than merely abiding in a “spiritual realm” in our hearts, even though it is an important part of the process. Kingdom living involves adjusting all of our goals, values, and priorities to align with God’s goals, values, and priorities! Among serious believers, the Kingdom perspective is not lost by an epic failure or a rebellious attitude; it is more subtle and harder to detect: distraction!
In the realm of darkness, chaos reigns. Chaos accomplishes many destructive objectives; this is one of the most important reasons to avoid conflict and strife. Chaos actually draws us into meditation that corrupts our hearts.
Meditation is where we think about or imagine something until we experience it as being real. This can be used for godly or ungodly purposes. Once we experience anything as being real, it changes our beliefs, attitudes, and actions. Any time we give our attention to anything, there is potential for it to change our sense of reality.
Even when we do not allow something to change our hearts, it can still distract us to such a degree that we fail to notice the voice of the Spirit as He attempts to lead us.
At the earliest moment, God warns us of impending danger. When we are walking into a trap or destructive situation, He attempts to lead us out of harm’s way. He is always the Shepherd, and a shepherd always leads His sheep, and His sheep recognize and understand His voice. If, however, we are focused on something else, we may not recognize His voice. Much of the tragedy that hits a believer is like a dog chasing a cat, running out in front of a car. He is so focused on the cat he doesn’t see the oncoming car. God never fails us; we may not commit some big sin; we simply allow ourselves to be distracted, no longer capable of following His lead, because we are unaware of how and where He is leading.
Kingdom living, as represented in the parables, is largely dependent on the realization of imminence! Imminence is a doctrine and an attitude that is totally neglected in most of the modern church. In fact, it is often criticized and considered immature. When an event is imminent, it means it can occur at any time, without warning, with no signs or indications. The parables imply a need for our vigilant expectation of the return of the Lord!
The event we must be constantly aware of is what the Greek language calls the “harpazo.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, says, For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The phrase “caught up together” is from the Greek word “harpazo.” A better translation may be “to take for oneself.” There is an event that is separate from Jesus’ return to establish His Kingdom, it is when He calls the Bride of Christ away unto Himself. This event is imminent. It will come like a thief in the night with no signs or warnings.
His second coming can be calculated based on Scripture; there will be all manner of specific signs, and everyone will know. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:27).
Most of the people who got their lives off track in the parables were people who stopped looking for their master’s return. They got distracted, then went from no longer expecting their master’s return to doubting their master’s return, to living as if He was not going to return. This is what happens when believers get distracted. Additionally, this is also the time when we are most vulnerable to attack and most likely to fail to recognize the voice of God when He is trying to lead and protect us!
Evil people use chaos as a powerful weapon. This, by the way, is exactly what the antichrist will do. Create problems that are so immense we can’t take our focus away from them. As our fear grows, we forget that we have a Deliverer. So, we will turn to the very people who created the crisis for protection, i.e., deliverance from the crisis! The more we focus on the crisis, the more we create a false sense of reality.
When Jesus prophesied the things coming on Planet Earth, He warned, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” And, “Watch and pray.” The most repeated warning He gave to all believers was, “Hear what the Spirit is saying.” There is one thing that each of these directives share: they are all dependent on where we place our attention.
Research shows that when we place our attention on anything, it grows in our awareness and also in its effect on us. For example, when we think about a pain or injury, it gets amplified in our experience. We think the pain is getting stronger, but it isn’t. The fact that we focus our attention on the pain, signals our nervous system that we want to experience more of this. The pain isn’t growing but our sensitivity to the pain is growing. We have false evidence that supports a new reality. We readily accept the false reality over the truth simply because, by giving it our attention it grows in our experience.
Distractions work the same way. This is why it is a favored strategy among manipulators, dominators, and the power-hungry. They create the crisis; we give it our attention. The experience seems to get worse and worse while the solutions seem less and less believable! Consequently, hope dies. We believe the crisis is the ultimate reality; it is not!
We fail to understand that choices are an exercise of our authority. Wherever I place my attention is an expression of free will and choice, i.e., authority (the right). Hence, the enemy that destroys us is not a power greater than ourselves; it is our power being wielded against ourselves. The greater reality is not the power of the problem; it is the power of the One who lives in us. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
The writer of Proverbs said this, “He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide” (Proverbs 18:9, AMP). Wherever I place my attention is either a suicidal endeavor or a healing experience!
Our sense of reality is determined by the place where we habitually focus our attention. At some point, we adjust our beliefs to align with our sense of reality. Then, we become trapped in a false sense of reality, feeling abandoned by God. Don’t let current events distract you from the promises of God, your true sense of identity, and your Divine purpose!
We are ambassadors for Christ. We are here on earth at this moment for a divine purpose. If the expectation of the return of the Lord Jesus is imminent, we will remain in our first love, and we will naturally and joyfully do our first works (Revelation 2:4-5). The expectancy of Jesus keeps us aware that we will stand before Him and receive rewards based on how we served as stewards and ambassadors.
Those who support Impact Ministries are some of the most generous givers in the world. You never put me in a position to beg for money. By your continued generosity, we steadily and consistently continue to do the work of the ministry in a way that influences people all around the world. Thank you for making it possible to do what we do.
Together we are changing the way the world sees God!
Blessings,
Dr. Jim Richards
DrJim@drjimrichards.com
P.S. Please enjoy this wonderful testimony:
History is being made in the Zambian prison system – and you’re helping us do it! Never before have the incarcerated received a Bible school degree from within these facilities.
Recently, Nate and Rute Tanner returned from a trip to Zambia, where they graduated 196 students in 3 prison facilities with a one-year degree from Impact International School of Ministry. Along with the 166 inmates, the graduating classes included 30 military officers and chaplains who work within the prisons and requested to attend the school. Classes are held five days a week and include study guides and tests. Their lives are being transformed, and they are so grateful!
The beautiful testimony below is from a speech given by one of the inmates on behalf of the student body at the Kamfinsa graduation in Kitwe.
“Today, we are standing with our heads up because of the knowledge we have acquired in this course. We attest to the fact that we were people who condemned ourselves, but because of faith-righteousness and the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are no longer condemning ourselves, as we have now understood that it has been paid in full. Therefore, truly, there is no longer condemnation for those who are in Jesus. We want to assure you that this knowledge we have acquired will not end with us, but many souls will receive it, knowing that we are his vessels for this generation. In conclusion, we are so thankful for changing our lives.”
In the coming year, 10 more prisons are on target to open these one-year Bible schools, with a goal of 39 within the major prisons of Zambia.
The following pictures are from the Kamfinsa and Kabwe Maximum prisons gr
aduations.
P.P.S. Don’t forget to take advantage of our annual Christmas sale! Click here to shop now: https://impactministries.com/shop/ Give the gift of grace, peace, and faith-righteousness this Christmas!