Jesus Christ, the Door & the Way - Part 1
Exit the perplexing world of drugs, mental illness and homelessness.
Mental illness is not a stranger among the homeless population. I have had many opportunities to interact with people who happen to have mental health issues. Some say that they hear things, some see things, some feel things, and some do all or a combination of it. At the outset let me make it very clear that I am neither a doctor nor offering medical advice, but only sharing my experiences with the readers. One thing that stands out is the correlation between mental illness and drug use. A cursory look at the published scientific studies, available online, confirm that there is a substantive correlation between mental illness and drug use. I want to share a few things which the Lord has shown me that might help someone facing mental health issues, if they believe. Perhaps it is the young folks that are most susceptible to the attraction of drug use due to its aura of fun, adventure, freedom and experimentation or plain rebellion. I hope this offers them a different perspective on drug use, one that is pernicious, leading to the bondage of addiction, brokenness, mental illness and homelessness.
During my conversations with friends from the homeless community, who show manifestations of mental health issues, many admit that they either still use drugs or have used in the past. This got me thinking, few years back, and I began to ask the Lord Jesus for understanding. Following is what the Lord has taught me from His word, as it applies to this real-life issue. Often those who suffer from such conditions do not have a clear understanding of what is happening to them. All they may know is that they are mentally ill, often diagnosed with certain psychological conditions, and need medication to function with some semblance of normalcy. But I have seen several times that when someone begins to understand what is happening to them in the light of the word of God, it marks the beginning of their healing, and that some are radically set free by the truth. The key to freedom is their faith in the word of God and the willingness to humble themselves and obey the Lord. Remember what the Lord said,
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Joh 8:31-32).
To understand the truth, it is necessary to approach it with the right perspective as the Holy Spirit leads us. Lord Jesus said, “I am the door, if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (Joh 10:9). Another time He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Joh 14:6). First He said, “I am the door,” and then, “I am the way.” What did He mean by this? This is strange language, or the metaphors are. Many who suffer are eager to know the answer and therefore, they listen. Often, in the church, it is taught that the door and the way metaphors are to help us understand that Jesus is the only way to go to heaven and that is correct, however, there is more to it than that.
We don’t need to be convinced that we live in a physical world because we know it for real. We know it because we can see, hear, touch, smell and taste things and that’s how we learn and know. We are, indeed, physical beings and therefore live in this physical realm. However, the truth is that there is a spiritual realm or an unseen or supernatural realm all around us which we do not see. Scripture says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Heb 11:3). The implication is that the things that are seen or the natural things were made by God from things unseen. That they were not made out of nothing, but out of the invisible or the supernatural realm. Now we also know that no one has ever seen God. (Joh 1:18). This is because God is supernatural and therefore natural man cannot see Him with his natural eyes. Scripture says that He is Spirit, (Joh 4:24), and the Father of spirits. (Heb 12:9). Just the way God is a spiritual being, the devil is also a spiritual or a supernatural being. And just as the angels of God are supernatural so also are the devils’ angels or demons. Unlike many skeptics and deniers claim, heaven and hell are real and are firmly tied to man’s eternal destiny. But we do not see any of these beings or domains either, because they too are supernatural and therefore exist in the supernatural or the spiritual realm that encompasses us, beyond the limits of our natural senses.
From Scripture we also know that God dwells in heaven and His kingdom is established there, that its citizens possess His nature, and they willingly obey Him. (Mat 6:9-10). Jesus came to defeat the devil and to reestablish His kingdom here on the earth as it is in heaven. In fact, He also said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (Joh 14:2). This has been the hope of Christians always, to go into the supernatural realm or heaven when they die; even of those who deny most of the supernatural. There are many in the church today who deny supernatural realities such as angels, demons, healings and miracles, which I believe is due to the way they have been taught, consistently minimizing the reality of the spiritual realm and spiritual things. It may be a hard thing for those who have been brought up on a diet of scientific methodology, empirical evidence, objectivity and logical reasoning to understand the things of the spirit. But the truth is that the spiritual realm is more real and powerful than the natural in which we live because of the simple reason that it is a greater realm, one that supersedes the laws of the natural. What has this got to do with anything? Everything! What Jesus meant by saying He is the door is that He is the only legal access for a human being who is in the natural realm to enter into the spiritual realm. The only lawful entry which God has appointed for all human beings, to enter into this superior realm where the unseen spiritual beings dwell. Now that makes all the difference and in the next part we will unpack this revelation to know how it affects our life here in the natural.
Jesus Christ, the Door & the Way - Part 2
We concluded the last part with an interesting revelation. But before we go any further, there is a foundational truth that needs to be revisited, one that is often discounted. Unlike what medical science says, the Scriptures say that every human being is composed of a spirit and a soul in addition to the body.
It is a joy to share with you what the Lord is doing in and through our lives. Thank you for praying for us.
Please share ‘Resurrection Life’ with your friends and family and bring them along in our journey with the Lord. All glory to the One who rose from the dead, never to die again – our Lord Jesus Christ.
Just would like to point out there are many cases of mental illness occuring without any illicit drug use, or alcoholism. Not every single homeless person takes or abuses illicit substances, it is indeed rare to find them these days but they do exist. Anyone can find themselves homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. They say the average working person can be only three paychecks away from it. The biggest cause and factor is often relationship breakdown wether that be in a family or between a husband or wife, or those living together in fornication though this is of course biblically wrong as we very well know. I often wonder how many of us as disciples and followers of Jesus, Christians will end up homeless when we refuse to take the physical mark of the beast? As we won't be able to buy or sell and you have to pay council tax, even if you own your own home or rent if renting. It will be fascinating to see how amazing our Heavenly father will move and perform miracles on behalf of those whom love Him.