Shangri-La or Shambhala is a fabled earthly paradise where
people live a beautiful, harmonious existence nearly to immortality. It is the place
our dreams take us. The fairy tale idea of Shangri-La, a lush earthly paradise where
people live long pleasant lives, is the concept that exists in almost all
cultures. It is known as Shambhala in Buddhism, the realm of harmony between
man and nature. Shambhala or Shangri-La is a deep rooted yearning which all
humanity desires. Love that flows through all living beings and touches our
very core is the longing of all people. This is the antithesis of Sodom. While
people have wished for the opportunity to get back to the Garden of Eden, a
place of pure unadulterated life without sin, our reality is a stark contrast
to Shangri-La. We live in a world that is slightly less evil than Sodom but far
from Paradise. Our inhabited world has been polluted by some of the Sons of
God, the Angels who fell, who are different than humans. Man’s very creation in
the Garden is an imprinted remnant on our DNA which drives humans to seek and
search for Shambhala. Made from red earth, we feel the travailing and birth
pangs of earth. When multiple breaches of sin and violations entered the earth
and humanity, it corrupted Eden, the Shangri-La that had been created for us. Just
as the earth spins, witchcraft spins and twists us into a dizzying melody
causing us to forget our place of origin.
While in our present state of earth’s rulership by satan,
we will never see a complete Shangri-La, but there are glimpses of Shangri-La
that we can be a part of on earth. While we live on earth we can bring those
glimpses of Shangri-La to others as well. It is called the ministry of
reconciliation that brings us into harmony with our creator. Many eastern
religions have tried without success to form a place on earth where people
would live by certain rules and practices which was to bring about Shambhala on
earth. But they have never succeeded. While their original intents were well
meaning, the god of this world would never allow a Paradise on earth. And
because men are fallible, all people have been left with broken dreams and
hearts. Remembering Sodom’s lost example, witchcraft, which is manipulation,
intimidation, domination, and regularly scheduled drug and orgy parties as well
as rape, we can see how evil perpetuated itself in the region. It has now
infiltrated every culture and society on the earth to a lesser degree. We know
the very purpose of the tribulation period is to filter and weed out those who
will stand with Jesus and those who will not. However, there is a small remedy
which when applied in purity, always brings humans one step closer to Shangri-La
or Shambhala. This is what should be making the church look different to the
non-believer. This is what people should see when they meet us. This is what
the world longs for. Let’s look at what people know to be true but cannot
understand.
Rom 8:22-23 All around us we observe a pregnant creation.
The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But
it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us
within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. 23 These sterile and barren bodies
of ours are yearning for full deliverance.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene
H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Rom 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation groaneth
and travaileth in pain together until now.23 And not only they, but ourselves
also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. KJV
It wasn’t supposed to be this way, groaning and travailing
in pain will end on the day of redemption for the redeemed. The un-saved are
not redeemed and they have no hope of redemption. But Yahweh thought of all of us,
all of humanity, before the foundations of the earth and we were the focus of His
love. Every single one of us. Redemption is not just for a special group it is
for everyone.
Eph 1:4-6 Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he
had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole
and holy by his love. 5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family
through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6 He wanted us
to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his
beloved Son. (from THE MESSAGE: The
Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights
reserved.)
Long before the foundations of the earth were formed,
humanity was the focus of Yahweh’s love. We have a hard time understanding love
as we humans usually have to know someone, how they behave, and if they match
up to our expectations before we love them. But Yahweh loved us before we were
even born. No matter if we were born rich or poor, or whether we grew up to be
nice or mean, Yahweh loves us. Loves brings a harmony into our lives that
connects us with our Creator, the Holy Spirit, and each other. That seems
simple enough. Yahweh loved us, me, my friends, my family, and people that I
know and like. But does Yahweh love people that don’t believe like I do or act
like me? Does Yahweh love people with different opinions and lifestyles than
me? Isn’t this what separates all Christians? Baptists from Pentecostals,
Catholics from Evangelicals; we are all the Body of Christ and yet we are all
fractured and splintered.
We have allowed the devil to break us up and break us down,
and to twist us into many small units rather than one body of love. We have to
come to some foundational understandings in order for us to unify ourselves and
see those glimpses of Shangri-La on earth. We should be showing the way to
Paradise and Heaven to everyone who is un-redeemed. We should be bringing the
knowledge of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God to the world. We have
the words of reconciliation, that very harmony with Yahweh to share with everyone.
Jesus came for sinners, not for the righteous or those who were able to keep
the required works of right living. Today, no one can keep the required works
of right living because there is no temple. Everyone needs Jesus to redeem
them.
Matt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will
have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous [1342],
but sinners to repentance. KJV
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just [1342]
persons, which need no repentance. KJV
NT:1342 dikaios
(dik'-ah-yos); from NT:1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication,
innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):KJV - just, meet, right
(-eous).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:1349 dike (dee'-kay); probably from NT:1166; right
(as self-evident), i.e. justice (the principle, a decision, or its
execution):KJV - judgment, punish, vengeance.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Jesus came to make sinners righteous, we can all agree on
this point. Therefore, if Jesus came to make us righteous and we believe he is
the Messiah, we are made righteous. The words used here are innocent, holy, and just.
Rom 5:6-8 While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help
ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly. 7
Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright
[1342] man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor
someone might even dare to die. 8 But God shows and clearly proves His [own]
love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah,
the Anointed One) died for us. AMP
God proved His love for us. When we believe on Jesus we are
now brought into right relationship with God. This is why we are saved from the
wrath to come, the wrath of the Lamb and the wrath of God during the
tribulation. We are saved because we are made righteous.
Rom 5:9 Therefore, since we are now justified [1344]
(acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by
Christ's blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him
from the indignation and wrath of God. AMP
NT:1344 dikaioo (dik-ah-yo'-o); from NT:1342; to render
(i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent: KJV - free, justify (-ier), be
righteous.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
We were reconciled because of Jesus, daily delivered from
sins’ dominion. We don’t have to live like Sodom, we don’t have to live in
Sodom either. We can live a new way, the way of those made righteous, as reconciled
to the Father through the blood of Jesus.
Rom 5:10-12 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled
to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are
reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion)
through His [resurrection] life. 11 Not only so, but we also rejoice and
exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation. [Jer
9:24.] 12 Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as
the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or
to escape its power] because all men sinned.
AMP
But sin wasn’t in the original plan, when the foundation
was laid the plan was to live in Eden, in celebration of His love, in
fellowship and communion with the Elohim. Sin came into the world. Then the
fallen angels exacerbated the situation by perpetuating witchcraft behaviors
among men. The earth became a mess. But we have exoneration from the sin we
were born into.
Rom 5:18-19 Well then, as one man's trespass [one man's
false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's act
of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for
all men. 19 For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear,
heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one
Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous [1342] (made acceptable
to God, brought into right standing with Him).
Jesus brought us into right standing, no matter our
heritage, no matter our nationality, no matter our past, Jesus changed the
dynamic of death for all who believe on Him. When the law came, sin increased.
Yet that made grace abound more.
Rom 5:20 But then Law came in, [only] to expand and
increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But
where sin increased and abounded, grace (God's unmerited favor) has surpassed
it and increased the more and superabounded, 21 So that, [just] as sin has
reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign
also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal
life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord. AMP
Now all who believe on Jesus are in right standing with
Yahweh. That is the importance of the administration/dispensation/time period
we live in. Before Jesus came we were not made righteous by his sacrifice,
obviously. We could only be righteous by our behavior. Yet Jesus said he didn’t
come for the righteous, he came for the unrighteous. Here is the critical
question we have to think through. Once we are made righteous can we become
unrighteous?
Be careful how you answer that. The unrighteous do not
inherit the kingdom of God. That would mean anyone who lies or commits adultery
is in jeopardy of not entering the kingdom of God. Unless, when Paul speaks of
the unrighteous he is speaking of those who do not believe Jesus is the
Messiah. (1 Corinthians 6:9, 1Timothy 1:9; we will read these a bit later) Ah,
now we are getting somewhere. We cannot be in right standing and wrong standing
at the same time. This is one place the Body of Christ fractures. The Law was
about behaving rightly to become righteous, but Jesus’ blood makes us righteous
once and for all; for all who believe. It is not by works but by grace. Isn’t
that exactly what Paul just said? The Law was about works and it made more sin,
but since Jesus’ death there are no longer any works for righteousness. Therefore,
when Paul talks about the unrighteous he is speaking about those who do not
believe on Jesus as Messiah.
Now think this through. How many Pastors have committed
adultery and also lied about it. Are we to believe that they are no longer
going to be reconciled? Can they become un-reconciled? Why then do we restore
fallen Pastors to Pastoral positions if they are booted out of the redeemed
group? What if a young adult lies? Are they going to be disqualified from the
kingdom of God for their lie? We have to understand that we humans are not put
in charge of the doorway into the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Heaven.
Therefore, it is not up to man to decide for all humanity who is allowed into
the kingdoms, it is up to Jesus. And Paul is writing regarding the un-redeemed,
not the redeemed. Redemption is not un-doable. It is not based on our
lifestyles or behaviors, it is based on Jesus’ blood. Rewards for the kingdoms
are based on our behavior.
Some things we have regarded as unrighteous behavior,
Yahweh does not have an opinion about. Most of these things are cultural or
societal in nature. There were many people in the Old Testement times who had
multiple wives, many also had servants that bore them children. Many people of the
Old Testament times owned slaves. Some visited prostitutes. Joseph’s brothers
thought they would find him as a prostitute at the city walls as he was a good
looking young man. As we know, there were many crazy behaviors in the temple
for over 300 years, like male and female prostitution; and again Yahweh did not
harm anyone. Hair, head coverings, beards, and women teaching the Bible are all
issues that are cultural. We have to keep in mind that women were not allowed
in the temple, only the court of women. Therefore women were not necessarily
privy to Biblical teaching. Women could observe ceremonies from a distance but
never participate in them. Women were of a low class as taught by the Rabbi’s
and were not to be greeted and were required to walk six paces behind a man.
Also if her head was uncovered she was considered a harlot. The Body of Christ
invites all people into the Holy of Holies. Jesus told us that harlots and tax
collectors would enter the kingdom of God ahead of the chief priests and
elders. That means many women enter the kingdom ahead of the chief priests and
elders. Think about this, for a woman to be caught in adultery she would have
had to have a man committing adultery with her, yet culturally it was
acceptable for the man to visit a prostitute but not acceptable to be a
prostitute. What? In the temple, booths were set up for the male and female
prostitutes from the time of the kingdom split to the time of Ezekiel. I don’t
think we can say that only the female prostitutes were bad and the male
prostitutes were acceptable. I don’t think we can say the visitors to the male
and female prostitutes in the temple were acceptable either.
We have another aspect to consider in regards to bringing
us closer to Shangri-La, the opposite of Sodom. The Holy Spirit came into the
earth to convict the world of sin. That means it is the Holy Spirit’s job to
lead the world and truly we are a better world than we used to be. I know some
would disagree, but think this through. Humans have always violated the rights
of other humans, however today many oppose those violations and attempt to stop
others from committing the witchcraft type sins of Sodom. With media support
people’s violations are known worldwide and many times actions are taken to
stop those violations.
Now what if the church actually did what Jesus said. That
would turn Christianity from being a petty judgmental group of haters, to
lovers. Would unsaved people catch a glimpse of Shangri-La if the Body of Christ
did what Jesus suggested? Jesus advised a few things we should consider. Let’s
read it in the Message.
Matt 5:13-16 "Let me tell you why you are here. You're
here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you
lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your
usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be
light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be
kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make
you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do
you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I've put you there on a
hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your
lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this
generous Father in heaven. (from THE
MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.)
God is not a secret to be kept, but it seems the Body of
Christ does exactly that. By making rules and rituals so complex, one cannot
even find God in the church. Have you ever heard stories of people in closed
countries being visited by Jesus? What then will those people find if they were
to enter a church today? Sad. We are saved if we believe on Jesus, then the
church brings in the “but”. Stop the “but”, there is no “but” to salvation and
entrance into the kingdom, no matter what your grandmother, your best friend,
or minister told you. Live generously. Wow, if the Body of Christ did that it
would be amazing. Jesus goes on.
Matt 5:38-42 "Here's another old saying that deserves
a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' 39 Is that going to get us
anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes
you, stand there and take it. 40 If someone drags you into court and sues for
the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. 41
And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the
servant life. 42 No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
For goodness sake, bake the cake and make it the best cake
you ever baked. Make the pizza and throw in a side of breadsticks. Shame on us
for being so petty. Personally, I have a problem with liars and if I had a
business that discriminated against liars I’d be out of business very quickly.
Look, someone told us a lie. Marriage is not for the unbeliever it is only for
the believer, so if one wishes to discriminate that is where the discrimination
should be; between believers in Christ and non-believers in Christ. How many
ministers and pastors have held marriage ceremonies officiating the union of
two people who were not believers in Jesus as Messiah? How many un-saved people
are married and accepted by the church and by the law when marriage was only consecrated
for the saved. Boy, we sure have missed this one by a mile. Let’s let Jesus
continue.
Matt 5:43 "You're familiar with the old written law,
'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' 44 I'm
challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the
best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with
the energies of prayer, 45 for then you are working out of your true selves,
your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best — the sun to
warm and the rain to nourish — to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the
nice and nasty. 46 If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus?
Anybody can do that. 47 If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you
expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
Do you expect a medal for not making a cake or a pizza for
someone you judge to be unacceptable, but instead you serve the lying
adulterous Pastor? How will anyone come to know the goodness of Yahweh when we
behave like this? Now Jesus finishes with a great point.
Matt 5:48 "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up.
You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity.
Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you (from
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.
All rights reserved.)
Grow up, because we are kingdom subjects. Even before his
death he was telling those who believed on Him to behave like heirs of the
kingdom. Now we can live out our God-created identity. This realization as to
who we are brings us closer to Shangri-La. This is why Paul says that by and
through Jesus we are in right standing, reconciled to him. Not only that, Paul
tells us that we have the ministry of reconciliation, that by our words and
deeds we can bring others into harmony with Him.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ
(the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old
[previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and
new has come! 18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ
reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with
Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed
we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].
Harmony, isn’t that what we are looking for, harmony with
the Creator and His creation? Paul goes on.
2 Cor 5:19 It was God [personally present] in Christ,
reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and
holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to
us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). 20 So we are
Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as
Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the
divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake He
made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him
we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the
righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right
relationship with Him, by His goodness]. AMP
If we are reconciled, we now have the pleasure of
reconciling others to Yahweh. We have divine favor to do it as well. We should
be examples of righteousness, but we seem to fall into Sodoms’ witchcraft type
of thinking. There is so much manipulation in the church, the church needs an
exorcism. Yes, I understand we individuals are the church, the called out; we
gather as a group in a building and that is where it all goes awry. We want to live in Shangri-La but we cannot
even live in harmony with each other. We are longing for Christ’s return to
make the change rather than change ourselves to be the bearers of
reconciliation to the unsaved. Once people are reconciled they cannot be
unreconciled. Again, why do we accept liars and adulterers and cast out others?
Paul wasn’t speaking about the reconciled, righteous believer, he was speaking
about the unrighteous who are not inheriting the kingdom.
1 Cor 6:5-11 I say this as bluntly as I can to wake you up
to the stupidity of what you're doing. Is it possible that there isn't one
levelheaded person among you who can make fair decisions when disagreements and
disputes come up? I don't believe it. 6 And here you are taking each other to
court before people who don't even believe in God! How can they render justice
if they don't believe in the God of justice?
7 These court cases are an ugly blot on your community.
Wouldn't it be far better to just take it, to let yourselves be wronged and
forget it? 8 All you're doing is providing fuel for more wrong, more injustice,
bringing more hurt to the people of your own spiritual family.
9 Don't you realize that this is not the way to live?
Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom.
Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, 10 use and abuse the
earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. 11 A
number of you know from experience what I'm talking about, for not so long ago
you were on that list. Since then, you've been cleaned up and given a fresh
start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the
Spirit. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in
Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining
His kingdom, but Paul says that the Corinthian Church has been given a fresh
start. Why? Because they came to receive Jesus as their Lord. Even if we
disregard what Jesus says in Matthew 5 about giftwrapping our coat and making a
gift of it if someone sues us for our shirt, we cannot mistake Paul’s words. We
Christians seem to provide plenty of fuel for more wrong, injustice, and hurt
to the Body of Christ. Paul says he is urging us to LOVE.
1 Tim 1:5-11 The whole point of what we're urging is simply
love — love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open
to God. 6 Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs
of gossip. 7 They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven't
the remotest idea of what they're holding forth with such imposing eloquence.
8 It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be
given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what
you say. 9 It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people
who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding
roughshod over God, life, 10 sex, truth, whatever! 11 They are contemptuous of
this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God. (from THE
MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.)
Love that is uncontaminated by self-interest and
counterfeit faith is how we should behave. Those who don’t do this set
themselves up as experts on religious issues but are misguided and bringing
hurt to the Body of Christ. We Christians have a little trouble reading things
in context. Instead we pick and choose words out of context to manipulate
others. Always read the Bible in context and do not distort the words the Holy
Spirit had written to us. We may need to dig into the definitions of words to
get to the original meaning, therefore don’t exclusively rely on the King James
English or the Latin. Go back to the Greek and Aramaic for better
understanding. We have all the free tools we could ever want, but we really are
the Laodicean fat and happy church. Let’s make an effort to put the salve on
our eyes so we can share this reconciliation that brings harmony with the
Creator with others. We cannot bring the words of reconciliation if we distort
the very words the Holy Spirit had scribed for us.
Here are some words of Paul’s that will help us behave
rightly towards others.
Col 3:12-17 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own
chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and
well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted
pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and]
patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure
whatever comes, with good temper]. 13 Be gentle and forbearing with one another
and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another,
readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so
must you also [forgive]. 14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold
yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together
completely in ideal harmony]. 15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes)
from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and
settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful
state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live].
And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. 16 Let the word
[spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and
dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one
another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as
you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His]
grace in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or
deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His
Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him. AMP
What if we really lived like that? Wouldn’t we be better
connected to Yahweh ourselves? Then we really could share the ministry of
reconciliation with others. This harmonious life would look and feel like
Shangri-La or Shambhala rather than Sodom. While life will not be perfect as
the devil is still the prince of the power of the air and he still has children
of disobedience, we could probably convert them as they too long for
Shangri-La. This is our misguided understanding of righteousness. We are
righteous and kingdom bound, therefore treat others well. Love those who
mistreat us as well as those who live differently than we do. Love the people
who think differently and give them the glimpse of Shangri-La they long for. We
should look different than the world. We need to honestly assess whether we
exemplify the behaviors Jesus suggested or not. Because if we do not, we cannot
give the world what they long for.
