Most of us have been to the mall or a theme park and studied the directory, the map.  Where can we find Old Navy or our favorite roller coaster? Those maps come in handy to help us find our way.  We find where we want to be  - the kids are begging to go to Build a Bear, the husband is hoping for the food court and maybe we just want to head to the nail salon.  No matter where it is that we want to go, we first must find out where we are.  We look for the big red spot that says “You Are Here”.  Once we find that, we can map our way to our desired destination.

The bible is our spiritual directory.  Psalm 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  It shows us the way to go but first of all we need to know where we are spiritually.  That big red spot can be found in 1 Corinthians 2 and 3.

First of all we have the natural man.  They have no interest and no understanding of the things of God. Spiritual things make no sense to them and are foolishness.  The natural man is lost, unsaved, without God.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

Next we have the carnal man. Carnal means of the flesh. They are the spiritual babies and their characteristics include being dependent, divisive, and critical. They are self-focused and live like non Christians. The carnal man is lukewarm towards the things of God.

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Finally we have the spiritual man. They understand the Bible.  No, not everything. There isn’t a scholar on earth who understands it all.  But they have a good grasp on it and a desire to learn more. Scripture is a part of their life.  The spiritual man is a learner - growing in the things of the Lord.

"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:13

So where are we in the spiritual realm?  Are we lost, lukewarm or learning? Search God's road map and let it be the guide for your life.


The term "man" in this article refers to all human kind rather than gender.
 
By Karen W of Ellie Marie Designs