Living Above the Line

Most of us who call ourselves Christian have been conditioned to believe that once we are saved, then we will begin what they call the “sanctification” process. Sanctification is biblical. Our belief system however, of the meaning and the process of sanctification is mostly Christian tradition passed down from one generation to the next. We have been taught from a belief system of “working for” the approval of Jesus. I would like to suggest that we move into a new belief system, that of “working from” His approval. We are already approved by Him. Ephesians 1: 6 tells us that we are already accepted in the Beloved, based on His finished work on Calvary. It is an amazing chapter, but we tend to think that it is for some future period of time, after we have been sufficiently sanctified.


If we have been accepted in the Beloved Now—already accepted, already approved— why do we think we now must work to sanctify ourselves to gain His approval. What this really translates into is that we are working to gain the approval of the people at Church. Why would we work “for” Him when it was His design for us to work “from” Him.


The Gospel according to Jesus Christ is that He chose us from the foundation of the world, He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1 is a love story written on His heart and handed to us free of charge! Why don’t we believe it?


For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:18, 19).


“That verse contains two truths. One truth talks about things that are seen and temporal, or temporary. The other truth talks about things that are unseen and eternal. Above the line is the unseen and eternal; below the line is the seen and temporary. The unseen and eternal is going on in the midst of the seen and temporal. As believers, we have the privilege of living an unseen and eternal life in the midst of this seen and temporal world. The realm above the line is invisible and eternal. It is changeless and timeless. The realm below the line is visible and temporary. We call it the natural realm. Whereas the unseen and eternal is the realm of 'I AM,' the seen and temporal is the realm of 'I am becoming.' (Stone, pp. 28, 29.)


In the process of walking through the valley of the shadow of death for four years, I learned something priceless. I learned that I can live in the “above the line” realm in the midst of unbelievable emotional pain. I learned the value of suffering and the work that suffering produces in a life surrendered to I AM. I learned that I can rest while He works “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).


This is truth. It is for His good pleasure. He works in me to will and to do. This is freedom. This is the abundant life that He promised. And it is available to us all.