I recently experienced this rather odd affliction and it made a lasting impression on me. Everything spinning out of control, loss of direction…nothing to hold onto, your balance is gone and you are unable to stand on your own and your sense of direction is gone. On reflection it occurred to me that there are times in our lives that we experience a spiritual vertigo. Balance in our daily lives would be our ability to react to different circumstances and deal with the many differences in life in a Godly manner. No matter who you are there are things that affect your ability to keep things balanced. There are so many issues today, to name just a few…issues between men and women, cultures, social positions, education, religious beliefs, work…How do you balance all of these factors and some not listed or thought of and maintain a balanced life? It is really hard to answer that question. Consider this…Finding a spiritual balance will not only provide an answer to this question but will allow you to lead a full and balanced life as well. 

 Ok, how do we describe Spiritual Balance? One concern might be perceptions of other christians as to the balance in our lives concerning God, Jesus Christ and biblical teachings. Most all of us would agree that the Sabbath, the holy days, tithing and God’s Kingdom, all these are basic things we can believe in but each individuals conception of them will differ. Most of these differences will be based on personal beliefs and past experiences.

Puzzling and in some respect sad but even how a person perceives God is often based more on past religious experiences, bypassing actual biblical revelations. Many of us see God as an untouchable being and remote, disinterested and uninvolved in the life of his people…nothing could be farther from the truth. So the first point of a spiritually balanced life would be a strong relationship with God. Biblically speaking references to balance, the word as we know it are few and subtle at best. In Hebrew the word translated refers to a pair of scales or balances. In New Testament Greek the word means to join together…yoke. Simply speaking in a symbolic way, a spiritual way, it is used as an emblem of justice and fair dealing. 

Proverbs 16:11 A just balance and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

Second Point….He must always be the standard by which we measure everything. Only God and his character are a true balance. I am going to move on to Point Three…which just happens to be Colossians Chapter 3.  as a way to gain that balance we need to live an abundant life. Real balance in our lives starts with our relationship with God and Christ. Turning away from our old ways that we might not be dragged back into our sinful ways…regaining and maintaining the proper balance in life, through God and Jesus Christ.We become a new person, replacing the old with the new…The new being the righteous character of  Jesus Christ, fully applied to our new person. In verses 11-17 Paul writes about this new person, he writes of tender mercies the benchmarks of his renewed soul. Kindness, humbleness, meekness, long suffering and extending forgiveness to others. 

Colossians 3:11-17

11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This is Christian Balance, when the realization comes to us that God is the final, just and faithful judge of all things. Through God and Christ we will be led to the joy of a balanced life making proper and Godly decisions. Remember – John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. There is a power in the word that brings balance in our lives.

Life is Good

jk