Imagine your fright if you found yourself strapped into a chair that was tilted so far back you were looking up to the ceiling. Before you can turn your head to get your bearings the chair starts to vibrate as a low rumble pulses through the room. The rumble increases in volume until it crescendos into a roar and now the chair is really shaking, as if there’s a giant rocking the room in which you are stuck. What scenario do you think I’m describing? A set up you would find at a haunted house this coming Halloween? A new ride at Disneyland? What I am trying to describe is what an astronaut might experience at the moment of liftoff. Since an astronaut will have trained for that moment for months, I don’t think she would be frightened at being strapped into a seat that is shaking while there is a deafening roar all around her. Instead I think that the astronaut would be excited and thrilled. After all, she is in a position that millions of others would love to be in: on the way into space to see the stars and to experience weightlessness.
In the same way, fellow Christians, you are in a position that millions of others ought to envy. Because of your faith in Jesus you are strapped to the most potent power in this world, and you are going places! It might not feel that way when you look at your ho-hum life with its challenges. But that’s why you’ve come here this morning—to receive again a God’s-eye view of reality. We’ll be given such a view as we continue our sermon series on the New Testament book of Ephesians and learn the truth about Christ’s power and a Christian’s position.
It was the Apostle Paul who wrote this letter to Christians living in the city of Ephesus. Paul spent three years there, longer than he had spent anywhere else on his missionary journeys. So it may be a little surprising to hear Paul write: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17). Didn’t the Ephesian Christians already know God well after learning about him from Paul for three years? Why did Paul pray that they would know God even better? And why is this also your pastor’s ongoing prayer for you? We should want to keep getting to know our God better because that knowledge is a blessing. Listen to what Paul went on to say: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18, 19a).
“You’re richer than you think!” That’s an advertising gimmick by Scotia Bank, but it’s also the truth Paul wanted his readers to understand. The better we come to know our God, the better we’ll see just how rich we are with blessings. Oh it’s true, your life now might not seem so glamorous—the Apostle Paul’s life sure wasn’t. Do you remember where he was when he wrote this letter? He was in prison! Yet he was certain that he and every other believer was in line for a glorious inheritance as God’s holy people. Here’s how the Apostle John described that inheritance. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them… 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ 5 He who was seated on the throne said… 7 ‘Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children’” (Revelation 21:3-5a, 7).
What awaits believers? A life without sadness. A life without pain. A life without disappointment. A life of eternal joy! No amount of money can buy such a life; it’s a gift from God to all those who continue to put their trust in Jesus for forgiveness. That’s what was meant when John was told that those “who are victorious will inherit all this” (Revelation 21:7).
And what will happen to those who are not “victorious”? What will happen to those who let themselves be sidetracked by the temptations of the world? John also wrote, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 21:8). Do you have such a God’s-eye view of eternity? Or do you suppose that when you die that’s it? I would urge you not to draw that conclusion until you’ve taken a good look at the Bible and its teachings. There are only two places you can spend eternity: heaven or hell. But how can we be certain that we’ll avoid hell—especially when the verse we just read said that’s where liars will go? Can we ever make it through the week without lying? When the teacher asks why we didn’t get our homework done, we say it’s because something came up—implying something unavoidable. The truth, however, is that we just didn’t apply ourselves. Or we may lie to the government about how much money we make so we don’t have to pay taxes on it. Or we may say to those who ask us for help that we don’t have the time, when we really just don’t want to make the time. If we are such liars, how can we look forward to the glorious inheritance of heaven? Shouldn’t we instead be bound for an unimaginable pain-filled eternity in hell? The Apostle John tells us how to avoid that place. He wrote: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life…” (Revelation 22:14a).
For us to enjoy the glories of heaven, we need to wash our robes, that is our lives. We witnessed such a washing this morning when the twins were baptized. Sure, baptism doesn’t seem like much unless you take a God’s-eye view of it. That’s exactly what Megan has done. Megan is Emily and Brayden’s big sister. When I visited her family last week, her parents relayed this incident to me. Megan and her father were settling in to read a Bible story when Megan said, “Tell me about the time I was Jesus.” You can understand Dave’s confusion. Sure, Megan looks like an angel, but she isn’t Jesus. When she kept insisting that her dad tell her about the time she was Jesus it dawned on her parents that she was talking about her baptism. You see, Dave and Amanda had been looking at baptism pictures with Megan, and they had also recently read her the story about Jesus’ baptism when the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove, and God the Father declared: “This is my Son whom I love.” Well Megan especially likes that true story, but did she misspeak when she asked her dad to tell her about the time she was Jesus? Not at all! The Apostle Paul once wrote: “…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
When Megan was baptized, Jesus wrapped himself around her so that when God looks at her now, he sees Jesus. That’s true of every one of us who is baptized. God no longer sees our sins, like the lies we have told, instead he see Jesus who always told the truth. Megan, thank you for helping me appreciate my baptism all the more! For in a way my baptism is the day on which I “became” Jesus. Martin Luther even once said, “We are Christs—both with and without the apostrophe.” Chew on that statement as you gather around the supper table tonight to review the sermon.
As sinners who have been washed in the waters of baptism, we have a glorious inheritance to look forward to: heaven! But there’s more. We enjoy security right now. Listen to what else Paul wrote. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know…the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion... 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body…” (Ephesians 1:18a, 19-23a).
With these words Paul gives us a God’s-eye view of Christ’s power and a Christian’s position. When Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after his resurrection, the disciples must have been confused at first. “Where’s he going? And what’s going to happen to us?” Well Jesus was going to be crowned king over all things and everybody. There is no galaxy or government that Jesus does not control (Message translation). And he does so on Mondays as well as Sundays, and every other day of the week no matter what the month or year. Best of all, he uses that incredible power for the benefit of Christians because we are his body!
But how can we say that Jesus has all power and uses it for the Church when we see all the violence in the world? Once again we must take a God’s-eye view of matters and trust his promise that Jesus is limiting the evil, and bending the evil he permits so that it becomes something good for his people. We know that promise is trustworthy because even though we one day will die (unless Jesus reappears first), our death is not defeat, but the doorway into our glorious inheritance. Jesus assured us of that by coming back from death himself.
But we won’t maintain such a God’s-eye view of things if we don’t keep looking at the world through the lens of God’s Word. And so, Dave and Amanda, I’m so glad we’re doing home devotions together. And I’m delighted to hear that you’re teaching your children about their Savior. It’s the best thing you can do for them.
It would be pretty cool to fly off into space some day and to experience the thrill and the views that astronauts experience. But as a Christian you’re in a better position than an astronaut strapped to a rocket bound for the space station. Through faith in Jesus you are strapped to the most potent power in this world, and you are going places! Well actually you’re just headed to one place: heaven. But there’s no other place like it. And Jesus will continue to be with you every step of the way, guarding and protecting you. Amen.
SERMON NOTES
Paul had spent three years with the Ephesians teaching them about God. So why did Paul pray that they get to know God better? How is that truth helpful when you’re tempted to think that Bible class, Faith Finders, or home devotions are a “waste” of time because you know it all already?
Paul wanted the Ephesians to know better the glorious inheritance that was theirs in Christ. How did the Apostle John describe that inheritance?
What can disqualify us from receiving the glorious inheritance God has prepared for his children?
One way to receive the glorious inheritance God has promised believers is through baptism. How was little Megan correct when she asked in regard to her baptism: “Tell me about the time I was Jesus!”
Explain Luther’s statement: “We are Christs—both with and without the apostrophe.” (Read the sermon text again if you need help.)
Today’s text gave us a God’s-eye view of the truth that Jesus is in charge of all things for the Church. But how can that be when we see so much violence and evil happening in this world?
Explain: “As a Christian you’re in a better position than an astronaut strapped to a rocket bound for the space station. Through faith in Jesus you are strapped to the most potent power in this world, and you are going places!”
