Spiritual DNA
The stone was rolled away from the dark tomb of my life fifty years ago when I chose to follow Jesus. He breathed new life into me and I was gloriously launched into a new beginning! A spiritual DNA was activated and I witnessed a deep transformative change in my character.
Imagine this scenario: strands of DNA are switched in your body while you’re sleeping. You wake up and your nose is different, you lost three inches in height, your voice has changed, and your hair is a different color!
That’s what gloriously happens when your natural Adamic soul encounters the life giving spirit of Jesus. It was described by Jesus as being “born again” or “born from above.” Jn. 3:3 I think of it as an impartation of the DNA of Christ.
The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 1 Cor. 15:45
Spiritual Womb
Jesus came with a DNA from heaven, conceived by the Holy Spirit, in a virgin’s womb. When we commit to follow Jesus we become newborn babies, conceived supernaturally. 1 Pet. 2:2
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Rom. 8:11 Now that’s a LOT of power.
Once the "glorious dust" settles, new followers of Jesus begin a lifelong journey of spiritual formation. A “spiritual womb” of ongoing conception is embedded within us. And yes, from season to season, there are labor pains! In a sense, the birthing process continues to unfold over time.
But the process is not without obstacles.
We have a dual inheritance: one passed to us from Adam, the other from Christ.
Dual Inheritance
Carnal DNA:
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other. Gal. 5:17
We have within us the inherent ability to sin.
Godly DNA:
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
We are granted the inherent ability by the power of the Holy Spirit, to live godly lives.
In a nutshell, this is every disciple’s storyline.
A good story consists of a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it. The point of the story is the character arc, the change. And so we have within, two potent streams of DNA, vying for expression. Therein lies the conflict, and the making of a great story. The DNA that dominates, will rule your soul, governing your attitudes and choices in life. Will it be carnal or will it be godly?
Ultimately, what you feed the most, will grow the most.
Ebbs & Flows
I dearly love new chapters of transformation but I am sobered by the cost involved. Ebbs and flows and five decades later, I sometimes reel from the turbulence of God altering the very fabric of my soul. There is dark resistance in the spiritual realm, negative impact from other people, plus my own paradoxical, inner aversion to change.
We can actually be thankful for this conflict, as it verifies that we are citizens of another world, strangers and pilgrims on a transcendent journey homeward.
Best of all, we are never alone in the process. Following Jesus for a lifetime is a partnership.
Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Phil. 2:12-13
Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people. Col. 1:27