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The Three Whats?Lyn Thompson, Pastoral Care, CTCA/Southwestern Regional Medical Center
... having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:18-23 Ever wished for more? More of this or more of that ... more wealth ... more power ... more ability ... more whatever. Ever known anyone else who did? Funny thing is, in these verses, the Apostle Paul prays that we'd recognize that God has already given us the more, but few people ever really pay attention to these three whats ... these gifts of God through Christ. And because we don't pay attention and apply these verses and truths to our lives, we live in poverty ... like the bag lady on the street ... well below the level of blessing, status, power and inheritance that God intends for us. In this powerful prayer, Paul asks for supernatural enlightenment or understanding so the Ephesians might know: He could have prayed for protection, health, courage, good marriages, unity and love, sooooooooo many things ... but he chose these. Why? Because, basically, if we don't understand and/or know these three things, we won't understand or know who God is, why He's created and called us and what we, together with God, can do together. To break that down: If we don't understand the hope of the calling we've been given in Christ, then we won't understand what our purpose is. The Bible tells us we were created for God's pleasure. And we were called with a holy calling by a holy God, which means that whatever we're engaged in needs to represent God appropriately -- not perversely or pervertedly. So whether we're eating a sandwich, brushing our teeth, filing our taxes, playing golf, taking cancer treatment, talking with someone, watching television, reading a book, whatever, we need to honor God through the call He's placed on our lives. We were called to reflect God's glory through the uniqueness of the creation God has made of each one of us. The journey of each of our lives has been uniquely chosen for us ... it's not a random chain of events or circumstances. God sets the course we run (Hebrews 11:1-2), because God's call on each of us is specific according to the pattern of the creation He made each of us to be. No two snowflakes are alike ... neither are any two people. We're each uniquely crafted to show forth God's glory from the unique perspective of the pattern of our lives. And God doesn't repent of the call He makes on us. It's an eternal call, Romans 11 says, no matter what we feel like at the moment or how we see ourselves. Second, if we don't understand the vast wealth of our inheritance both to and through God'glory, we won't understand what we're becoming. We're God's inheritance, and He and His kingdom are ours. We are God's inheritance in that, when we give our lives to Christ and He comes to live in us, it is the fullness of the Godhead that dwells in our lives. And that beauty and glory of God, when they shine through correctly, draw others to Him, and He enjoys the fellowship and love of His creation, freely and willingly. God calls each of us His treasure ... His wealth. We're what He displays and calls attention to as He transforms us from glory to glory. Amazing to think about, isn't it? Especially when we think of all the times we've dirtied or sullied ourselves, rather than shone like stars in the universe or like polished jewels in a fitting and uniquely designed setting. And God loves us still and puts at our disposal, when we're in close fellowship with Him, the full riches of His Kingdom -- all that the Bible tells us we can be and can have in Christ. Third, if we don't understand the exceeding greatness of God's power to us as believers, we won't understand all that's available to us and all we can do. Through His power, we can conquer sin, wounds of the past, even our old nature. In our lives and in what we encounter, we have power to make Satan and the flesh obedient to Him. We don't have to live like paupers, like slaves, like wounded animals. God's power in us is to redeem and restore what Satan has robbed or destroyed in or from us. We have power, through Him, in prayer, works and love, to not only be transformed, but to transform people around us and the place and circumstances we're in. We have victorious, overcoming, conquering power, the power of the Almighty, Sovereign Lord when applied to seeing His will done on earth as it is in heaven. That's about as heady a power trip as anyone could hope to have ... and it's what God wants us to understand and to use ... for His glory and our good. |
