Very often I hear calls for us to leave the “comfort zone” in which we find ourselves and begin doing something we have not done before. I understand what is meant and immediately apply this call to myself and to my situation, trying to understand how comfortably I live and where I should go from my comfort zone. I began to analyze this subject and came to the conclusion that this concept includes two different positions of a believer, and they should not be confused with each other.
There is a worldly, sinful “comfort zone” that we all should leave, and there is God’s comfort zone, into which we all should enter. This must be understood correctly, and these two concepts must not be interchanged, so that we do not create problems for ourselves by surrendering our will to the authority of the preacher without understanding the essence of things.
The worldly “comfort zone” for Christians consists in the fact that this world has adapted itself to our convictions and offers its imaginary security on its own territory. You are permitted to believe whatever you want, attend meetings, preach, openly express your religious opinion, and sow the seed, while all your rights are protected by the laws of the country in which you live. We are fortunate to live in a free country, and this is a blessing. But freedom implies not only religious freedom, but also freedom for the forces of evil, which use this opportunity to cultivate and impose their views and values, freely preaching a worldly and sinful view of things, presenting it as harmless and desirable, and calling everyone to pay for sinful pleasure. And the authorities protect the right of these forces to impose their convictions freely. But sin carries death within itself, and it is written that the soul that sins shall die. And woe to me if I have found a comfortable place for myself amid this sin, have adapted to the corruption around me, and allow this influence into my home and into my life, justifying myself by the fact that I go to church, read the Bible, pray, preach, and render to God the things that are God’s, while at the same time drinking the “wine of Babylon” because I do not know how to build my life in any other way. And if my life is arranged so that I feel good and comfortable amid this evil, and this evil is in my home and in my mind, while I try to fight it in my own strength, then it is worth considering whether God has something better for me. And this is where the most interesting part begins: I come to myself and decide to leave my “comfort zone” because I have been called to do so. And I go where God’s work is being done. But the problem is that there is serious damage in my mind, and the world from which I am fleeing remains in my thinking; and with these concepts I begin to build my new life outside the zone of my former comfort. And what will I build? My way of thinking will be reflected in all my further ministry. The order and rules of the new place of service may help me live correctly and within strict boundaries, but they will not solve the problem of my corrupted heart. My healing and the changes in my thinking depend mainly on my desire for change and on my correct understanding of what truth is and why I need it.
But there is also God’s “comfort zone”—something devised for me by God Himself, a place where I feel safe and under His special protection. It is a place where laws and authorities guard me and also protect my property, where everything is well ordered and predictable. I have found such a place for myself in Jesus, with Him also dwelling in me. This is truly a very comfortable place. Jesus solves all my problems and takes all my cares upon Himself. He protects me and preserves me from evil. He gives me everything I need. And I understand that this is only because of His love.
I am in the very epicenter of the great controversy; the waves of sin rage around me, but Jesus brings me into a quiet harbor, teaches me to overcome, and Himself gains these victories within me.
I invite everyone here, into this wonderful zone of God’s comfort. Nothing better could be devised. It meets all of God’s standards, and there is no need to leave it. Death, darkness, and disease are all around, but here there are love, happiness, and friendship.
Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
And I carry this comfort zone with me in my heart. Wherever I am, it is there as well. For it is Jesus in me. He is always near. And it is so comforting to be with Him.
Laodicea is more an era than a character. And the Lord addresses those who live in this era with an offer to have business relations with Him and then close relations, and to pay attention to the condition of my heart, which He can tune according to His own manner.
A sanitarium or another place does not solve the problem of my lukewarm condition. In such places I am better protected from external temptations, but not from myself.
Ministry will not solve the problem of a lukewarm heart either. It may be a good mask before society, but not before Christ.
But Jesus solves these problems simply and quickly. He warms the heart so intensely that it begins to burn. And He has even stated His plans: gold, clothing, and eyesalve. With these qualities, any ministry will be a blessing, and any outpost will become a place where God’s work is done.
We must leave the sinful “comfort zone,” and do so as quickly as possible; but at the same time, we must enter God’s rest, God’s zone, or there will be no benefit. For when an evil spirit comes out of me, it walks through dry places and then decides to return home; and finding the house unoccupied, it calls its friends, more wicked than itself, and they occupy the empty territory. But the presence of Christ in my house will be a serious obstacle to the visit of evil powers.
When I recognize my sins and ask for forgiveness, I receive it. I become clean and free, but I need power to preserve this freedom so that I will not fall into sin again. And I do not have this power within myself.
It is as though a debt of one million has been forgiven me, but I have not become rich; I have merely returned to zero, with nothing on which to continue living, and so I go into debt again.
But God has a plan. He gives Himself as a gift, together with all His riches and His power. And He teaches me very good things. He makes me a millionaire of His righteousness, first imputing it to me and then imparting it to me as I grow spiritually. Jesus enriches my life according to His love for me and my desire to receive this wealth.
Love is the best means of fighting sin in my life, and it best transfers my thinking from the sinful “comfort zone” into God’s comfort zone. Love unites me so closely with Christ that I understand that without Him I can do nothing, but together with Him I can do all things, for He strengthens me. What happiness it is for me to be in Him and for Him to be in me. This is a real and happy life. It is the very best “comfort zone,” which begins here and will continue throughout Eternity.
And Jesus promised that He would in no wise cast out those who come to Him, and so it is. But His desire is to receive me, and then to enter me and dwell in me; only then will I be able to bear much fruit.
But the world, seeing this relationship with Christ, rages and does not want to let me go. It devises new traps for my soul and takes the form of an angel of light so that, if possible, it may win me back.
But I choose love, happiness, and friendship in Christ Jesus, and I receive what I have chosen. And this is so comforting to my soul.
Homework 223
In the light of our lesson, please read 1 John 2:15–17; 5:4; Revelation 3:14–17; Jeremiah 51:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:3–8; Matthew 11:27–28; Psalm 62:1–2, 11; John 14:23; 15:7–8; Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:35–37; Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 18:30–32; Matthew 9:16–17; and Hebrews 12:2–3. Did you learn anything useful for yourself? What comfort zones do you know? Are they truly comfortable? How can I understand whether I am in the right comfort zone? What is the danger of remaining in worldly security? How much does my comfort in this world cost? Can I have God’s comfort and worldly comfort at the same time? How can a proper condition of the soul be distinguished from a dangerous one? Which Bible verses or examples came to your mind while studying this lesson?