Fallen and Cannot Get Up

The Almighty declared His name to be “I AM” from the beginning. We usually take this to mean that there is nothing that did not come from Him. Later in history when the Son of God came to earth He declared to us, I AM LIFE. This means that Jesus came to provide the reconnection between the “I AM” and our life. Every human-being begins their life as a walking dead person because we are a “fallen race”. Our race was disconnected from God because of our sin. The only way we can ever gain eternal life is to have faith in the one who said I AM LIFE. It would be wonderful if everyone would give up their “fallen life” and obey God in order to “get up” and walk in love for others. The exchange of our old selfish life for a new life should be a no-brainer but many people resist change. In addition, some people enjoy their “fallen life” too much to give it up even though they will end-up in eternal death. How people react does not change the fact that Jesus has gone to great lengths to bring us back together with “I AM”. To “get up” from our selfish life and walk in a new life is the greatest miracle that can be achieved.

Jesus first showed us proof that a new life was contained in Him when He returned to life from among the dead. Even before Jesus died he was telling His friends who He really was. Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, (put in your name)?” John 11:25-26 (NLT) History records that Jesus certainly did “get up” from among the dead. Today, the Spirit of Jesus is telling us that we may also “get up” from the dead if we will trust Him with our entire life. To the unbeliever all this looks impossible but to a believer there is actually nothing that makes any more sense. The Bible tells us that there is another world that is far beyond this world. Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” John 8:23-24 (NLT) Somehow we must cross the great void that separates us. The tie between the I AM and the I AM LIFE is absolute and is the necessary connection for the salvation of any person.

The Son of God came to provide the way for us to “get up” by believing in Him and what He has done. This is why we have careful instructions in the New Testament about following the Savior. It was necessary for Jesus to return to Heaven and for the Spirit of God to come down to earth. Because the Spirit is living inside of Christians we now have the power we need to “get up” and return to the “I AM” forever. Jesus taught this when He said; The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” John 6:63-64 (NLT) Our return to God depends entirely on our continued believing in the plan of God.  Jesus is the bread of life in another passage; Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” John 6:50-51 A Christian must love having Jesus in their new life each day in order to grow. This bread will give us the strength we need to live a godly life and please the Almighty.

Some people call our return to the “I AM” the grace of eternal life. Others like to think of our return as “fountains” of the water of life. Here we are “getting up” from a fall. Whichever way we like to think of it, we must all acknowledge Jesus as our Savior and our Lord. Jesus said; My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. John 10:27-28 (NLT) Our eternal relationship with the trinity is more valuable than all the gold in the world. When one of the disciples questioned Him Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” John 14:6-7 (NLT) This passage shows that the “I AM” and the “I AM LIFE” are very closely tied together. The disciples, through Jesus, both knew God and had seen God. This is why Jesus is able to help us up from our fallen condition. Jesus said; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (KJV) It’s true that there is nothing in this world that compares to the abundant Christian life.

What a privilege it is to serve the great I AM after we have been rescued from our fallen position. Paul said; Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Phil 3:8-11 (NLT) In a similar way that Jesus was one with the Father, we may become one with Jesus Christ. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. John 17:22-23 (NLT) Nothing is more impressive than becoming “one” with Jesus Christ. Israel used to cry out “Emmanuel” (God be with us, please) but today Jesus is Emmanuel or we say God is in us.

What wonders await us as we “get up” by joining the I AM LIFE by our faith. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times but he made a great comeback. This is what he said after his return; All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. 1 Peter 1:3-6 (NLT) Every Christian should feel the power of their new life as we are lifted out of our place among the “fallen race” of humanity. To receive and live our new life is an exchange of such value that it cannot be calculated. The great I AM, really loves us when we “get up” and follow His Son.