“…God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” (NIV) Romans 4:17(b)
In life, we are not called to accept whatever life offers, but rather to receive what God has given us in Christ (Romans 8:32). The final expression of our surrender is found in aligning ourselves with God’s will and purpose.
The ongoing battle between light and darkness is ultimately a battle for comprehension this is because to truly comprehend is to walk in dominion. The reality of every believer is hidden in Christ, and in Him, there is no room for self-accomplishment (Colossians 3:3). We are called to die to self. As Jesus said, “He who does not gather with me scatters.”
WHAT THEN IS REALITY
Reality is that which is true, factual, or actually happening whether seen or unseen. It is not shaped by illusions, fantasies, or false beliefs. In simple terms, reality is the state in which a thing exists; it is your present tense.
Yet, people can shift their reality through the substance of faith a firm conviction and awareness that, though this is what is, something greater is possible.
THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF REALITY COMMON TO MAN
1. PHYSICAL REALITY
Physical reality refers to the tangible, material world that can be perceived through the five senses things we can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. It includes everything observable and measurable in time and space. It is the world governed by natural laws: gravity, motion, cause and effect.
This is the realm where the body organizes facts and circumstances; it also evaluates your surroundings, possessions, and environment.
However, for the believer, physical reality is not always the final authority. Faith acknowledges physical facts but holds on to spiritual truth meaning that we gather facts in the physical but hold on to how things should be according to God’s Word. Jesus kept saying, “It is written,” and “It was not so from the beginning.” (Matthew 19:8)
Example: A doctor’s report, your current bank balance, or the physical pain in your body all these are expressions of physical reality.
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:18
2. SPIRITUAL REALITY
Spiritual reality is the unseen realm where God’s Word, will, and purpose exist in fullness. It is governed by eternal truths rather than shifting circumstances. For the believer, spiritual reality is the true foundation of life because it aligns with God’s unchanging nature.
In this realm, dark powers and forces operate both by ignorance and oppression, making men captives. Though unseen, it influences everything seen. Faith is the bridge between the spiritual and the physical.
“We live by faith, not by sight.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:7
3. ETERNAL REALITY
Eternal reality refers to God’s ultimate plan that transcends time. It is unchanging and everlasting. This is the realm where God’s promises are already fulfilled, where justice is perfect, and where every purpose is complete.
Gideon in Scripture is a clear example: though he saw himself as the least in his family, God spoke to him from the vantage of eternal reality:
“The Lord is with you, mighty man of valor.”
— Judges 6:12
God’s declaration was not based on Gideon’s current state, but on the eternal truth of who he was destined to be.
As believers, we are called to live with an eternal perspective anchored not in what is happening now, but in what will remain forever.
4. PERSONAL REALITY
Personal reality is your unique experience how you perceive life based on your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and choices. It reflects the intersection between your physical and spiritual realities.
While personal reality is shaped by experiences and environment, it is meant to be transformed by truth and faith. What you consistently believe and confess becomes the lens through which you interpret life.
“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
— Proverbs 23:7
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
— Romans 12:2
The mind is the place where light can be comprehended. The light and realities that exist in the spirit are discerned and believed here.
