Which is more real, the natural physical realm or the spiritual realm? Is ‘nature’ and physical reality ‘real’ and the spiritual realm something ethereal? Do you think most people think about this very often? Do we as Christians live out of an understanding of these two realities? Does the term ex nihilo mean anything to you? It is a Latin term meaning ‘out of nothing.’ It is a term that has long been used to describe creation – the universe suddenly appearing out of nothing. In recent decades the most strongly held theory in science regarding the origin of the universe has been that the universe was created through a Big Bang (an explosion). What most don’t consider is;
- What was banged (bad grammar)
- Who banged it (more bad grammar?)
The Big Bang Theory is a good fit with scripture and it answers both those questions. When we look in various sections of scripture we get a glimpse into reality. Prior to the creation of the physical universe, which exploded out of the spiritual realm, what lay behind the curtain? We had millions and millions of angels, strange creatures orbiting a throne like electrons around the nucleus of an atom. We had a throne, a throne room, order, structure and hierarchy. Yes all of these things are laid out in scripture – go look at Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, Revelation, many of the Psalms and other places!
A confirmation of the greater reality of the spiritual realm is in Hebrews 1.
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:1-3 (NKJV)
An interesting little phrase in this passage refers to Jesus “upholding all things by the word of His power.” Many translations say something like ‘the power of His word’ rather than the ‘word of His power.’ The latter is accurate as in the Greek tense it refers to a continual ongoing activity. Jesus is continually holding all of creation (the natural realm) together through the ongoing release of His power.
Further confirmation of the spiritual realm being the more real one is in the verses below.
40 And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. Exodus 25:40 (NKJV)
5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5 (NKJV)
The heavenly was the pattern, the earthly was the copy.
This leads to the ‘so what’ question? The answer is that we are called to live in two realities. While two physical objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time a spiritual object can intersect physical objects and occupy the same space.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 (NKJV)
As we become more attuned to the spiritual realm, the pattern, and learn to operate from that pattern we are more effective in the natural realm. When we do this we are walking out our calling to release the atmosphere of heaven into earth, ‘on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). Let’s become more heavenly minded so we can become of greater earthly good.
