Ephesians 1:11 - 23 ¹¹ In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, ¹² so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴ this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. ¹⁵ I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸ so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. ²⁰ God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²² And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Imagine! In a day before medical people even conceived of scopes threaded through arteries! Paul tells the Ephesians in this wonderful letter about the Christian Church that light comes down into our heart, for the eyes of our heart. What are our eyes to see? Mysteries. Deep mysteries!

We have reflected in the past on being in someone's will. Unless we disown the relationship, we are all inheritors of great riches. Not everything that gleams is gold. This treasure is eternal life - with the bright light of our risen Lord shining right down into the depths of our heart, so that the "eyes of faith" can be moved to act according to the status we have as those who will inherit the blessing of life everlasting in the presence of the Almighty.

Why are we alive? Not just to earn money to eat and drink and be merry and then die. We are alive for the praise of His glory. We live to praise the Almighty for gifting us with His eternal life, born as we are in eternal death and separation.

Darkness seeks to win - to rob us of the inheritance. We hear the Word, worship, commune, celebrate the Lord's birth and resurrection and then "life happens." We get busy. We get influenced by those who are not one with us in the faith. We get darkened by the spirit of the dark world. The One who lives and energizes your heart for all eternity seeks for us to quit our wandering, physically by not gathering with fellow Christians, spiritually as the ups and downs of life catch us off guard and lead us to go through the motions. His power is stronger.

I pray with Paul for all of you, whether I see you weekly or not at all. I yearn that you will hear the Gospel, for you have been called to the hope of life everlasting. Nothing is more important than to worship God and hear Him read the will, His will, to gift us with life now and forever. As we turn to Him in the upcoming Lenten season please come so that the Triune God may enlighten your heart with His glorious gift of forgiveness and life everlasting.

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp