The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ephesians 2:6-7,
"God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."
In a verb tense that demonstrates past action, Paul declares that God has "raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus". Paul is careful to point out that being seated in the heavenly realms is only in Jesus Christ. There is no other, there is no other way. As Jesus Christ said himself, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. No other religion, no other spiritual teacher or guru can get us there. Heaven's access is but one door, and that door is the person Jesus Christ!
We read later in this chapter that it is through Jesus Christ we are saved. The exciting thing Paul points out here is that those of us who are saved are seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realms. What is so exciting about this? It speaks to the quality of our existence and standard of life in the resurrection for an eternity. In the previous chapter Paul just pointed out that when God raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, he seated him at his right hand in heaven, "far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." This is the place given to God's Son, Jesus Christ and is only for him, appropriately so. However, in some way or fashion, we are seated with Jesus Christ in heaven.
While I'm not sure how all that works out, or just exactly what that looks like, all I know is that it looks pretty good to me. For me, I am very happy, excited and blessed to counted among God's children. It is something I am eternally grateful for and appreciative of. I also hold the outlook of David when he says "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." Give me the most menial position, the most humble of circumstances within the kingdom of God and I am just thrilled to be among those who live in God's wonderful presence for an eternity! And, yet, here is this! We are seated with Jesus Christ himself in the heavenly realms. It certainly is something to muse and consider.
What mercy, grace and kindness shown to an undeserving sinner like me!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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