Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Heavenly display
Ephesians 3:10,11
… the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We have seen that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was a public display, a demonstration in the material world of what had taken place in the spiritual or invisible world, the heavenlies. Now, the Apostle Paul introduces another dimension in our understanding of the interplay between the two realms. On the basis of that display in the material world, we, Christians, are on display in the heavenlies.
Paul tells the Ephesian Christians that the church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God to those principalities and powers that are located and operating in the heavenly realm. We are ever conscious of our impact on the material realm but a full understanding of our role and responsibilities require a consciousness of the impact in that invisible realm.
Often, we are reminded of those in the heavenly realm in two ways. In the first instance, we are reminded that those on our side, mostly the saints who have passed on, are observers. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1,2
In the second instance, we are reminded that there are those there in that realm who are opposed to us. This is usually cast in warfare terms, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
There is a curious story at the beginning of the book of Job. Job is going about his daily life and business seemingly oblivious to what is taking place in the heavenlies. However, up there, a big meeting is taking place where various spiritual beings are reporting on their activities. More curious is the fact that the devil has to show up and report too.
God who looks to our visible, material realm for an example of what fidelity to God is. “Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” Job 1:8. God touts in the heavenlies those who fear Him and shun evil. Such persons are considered by God to be blameless and upright.
The argument being presented by Paul to the Ephesians is that, now that Jesus has paid the penalty for sin on the cross and has been raised from the dead in a public display of victory and triumph, we have the capacity to live lives that are blameless. The weakness of the human condition, including the separation of peoples, could now be put behind us because of the power of the resurrected Christ in us.
Of course, if we know the stories in our bibles well, we know that Job suffered tremendously on account of God’s boasting about him. Job went through a range of emotions and responses during his ordeal but ultimately remained faithful to God. Job never understood the reason for his suffering but accepted that God, who is all wise and in control of every aspect of the universe allows all of these things for the outworking of His purpose and our good.
We are never given a glimpse of the next big meeting day in the heavenlies where Satan would once again come before God to discuss the blameless Job. We have not been given a seat to witness how the principalities and powers eventually reacted to Jobs uprightness. But we can be assured that Job continued to walk in God’s blessing. Interestingly, we should note that Job was never outside of God’s blessing even as he was tested by the devil.
What God wants is a blameless church, and the death and resurrection of Jesus make that possible. We must be like Job, we must remain steadfast, regardless of the circumstance, because God is at work to accomplish His will both in our lives and through our lives. Our steadfastness and blamelessness are a powerful message that God uses in the heavenlies against the principalities and powers. We are on display.
“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:21-23.
Think on these things:
- If there is a meeting in the heavenlies today, as at the beginning of the Job narrative, would God be able to use you as an example in the same way as He used Job?
- What things would make you a good example or a bad example?
- Do you think that your church, as a group of believers, is a good example to the principalities and powers in the heavenlies?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would live lives which God may use as examples of blamelessness and uprightness in the heavenly realms.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex
