Living In Hope: Ephesians 1

 Living In Hope: When Do I Find Myself Reading Ephesians 1 the Most? 

Ephesians 1:1-13 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He [made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

 

Recently I was reading through Ephesians 1 and the thought dawned on me, when do I find myself turning to the pages of Ephesians, particularly, chapter one the most? What and odd question! Yet, one I couldn't seem to ignore. So after pondering it, the answer became so clear: when I need to transition my mind from the temporal to the eternal.

You see, in verse 1 Paul tells these believers, You are in Ephesus, but then he tells them You are in Christ. My point is, in Ephesus, that’s the temporal; in Christ, that’s the eternal. 

Ephesus represents this temporal fallen world; it represents all our problems and difficulties. It represents our failings. It represents our disappointments and let-downs. It represents the pain and sorrows of this present life. I know this fallen world is a real place where we have to deal with real issues and real emotions, but the point I am making is that sometimes I find myself consumed by Ephesus. Sometimes I find myself engulfed by all the problems and pain of this temporal world. Sometimes I find myself in a pit because I have become so ‘Ephesus-minded,’ I can't get my head out of Ephesus! Yet the Holy Spirit so graciously brings me back to the realization, Tim, you need to get your focus off ‘the temporal’ and back onto 'the eternal.' AND THIS IS WHEN I TURN TO EPHESIANS 1 THE MOST, when I need to get my mind off of me and back onto what Christ has done for me. 

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "IN CHRIST?"

(1-13) I am blessed with all spiritual blessings. I am chosen. I am holy. I am blameless. I am set apart. I am adopted into God’s family. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. I am lavished with grace. I am blessed with wisdom and understanding in the will of God. I am sealed with the Holy Spirit. 

When this world, with all its problems, pains and disappointments cease to exist, these are the things that will remain because they are eternal.

Yes, I live in Ephesus, so to speak, but Ephesians 1 reminds me that Ephesus is just a very temporary place, BUT In Christ is my forever home. Praise be to God!