Essays in Ephesians #4
[ . . .God’s will and His purpose—are set forth in Christ] . . .as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:10–12 ESV
Life on earth is tragic. Yet God’s plan, set forth in Christ, continues to unfold through times when we feel deaf, gagged, horrified by violence and blinded by grief and the throbbing distractions of injustice, pain, loss, and death.
Despite the destruction caused by man’s rejection of God’s love and our human refusal to follow God’s loving laws, God never gives up. His plan to unite all things in heaven and earth is intensely personal. Day after day and individual by individual, He carries out His purpose.
Whenever I hit my head against blatant evil or difficult circumstances and whenever understanding God is rationally impossible, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Jesus’ love. As I grapple with the unutterable tragedy of life on earth and the unanswered questions of our present moments, He confronts me with the cross.
And what do we see on the cross? We see God Himself and His love in an innocent man who overcame the evil of hatred, jealousy, cruelty, brutal force, and earthly contentions for power by forgiving those who hurt Him, by loving His enemies and by trusting in God’s plan and purpose through death.
In the cross, in Jesus death and resurrection, we also see historical evidence that life is more than the existence of animal and vegetable matter upon this earth. We see the truth that God IS Spirit. The realm of His Spirit is accessible by faith and not by sight. The cross tells us that this realm of the Spirit is far more powerful than the realms of earthly matter. In Jesus life and death we see a power greater than the kingdoms of this earth. We see a rule of Holy law and order that is deeper and truer than all the creeds and charters of man.
Without the cross, facts are hopeless. In the last century, sixty million human beings were killed to secure doomed dictatorships; aids orphans are dying at this moment; over a million violent crimes were reported in the USA last year. Violent persecutions of Christians, whole families who believe in a loving forgiving God, is on the rise. According to a Newsweek article in April 2018,
The persecution and genocide of Christians across the world is worse today than at any time in history, and Western governments are failing to stop it . . .
The study by Aid to the Church in Need said the treatment of Christians has worsened substantially in the past two years compared with the two years prior, and has grown more violent than any other period in modern times.
“Not only are Christians more persecuted than any other faith group, but ever-increasing numbers are experiencing the very worst forms of persecution,” the report said. ahttps://www.newsweek.com/christian-persecution-genocide-worse-ever-770462
Facing against these tragic realities stands the Word of God, assuring us that God has a plan and that as we continue to believe in Jesus’ witness to His Father’s love, as we say Yes to the work of His indwelling Holy Spirit, we are part of His global plan. The worlds and kingdoms around us may crash and fall, our own earthly lives may fall apart, but God’s Kingdom will never come to an end. His Holy Spirit within us is a deposit, a proof of the indestructibility of our lives and of our relationship with our Father in Heaven. Jesus resurrection from the dead is proof positive of His promise of eternal life for us.
All existence, everywhere in the cosmos, is under God’s reasoned, wise, purposeful love. All will be to the praise of His glory. That truth is denied by materialists who limit their understanding of our life on planet Earth to the scientific details. God is spirit and those who worship Him and come to know His ways will know Him in Spirit and in truth.
In Jesus of Nazareth, an immortal seed became a mortal man. You and I, men and women of flesh, can be born again by the seed of His immortal Spirit. At death, our mortal flesh is put aside and puts on immortality in a new body. According to God’s plan, not just the righteous faithful and just of our race, but entire worlds will be transformed. It is reasonable joy to believe. When time is full and God’s plan for man on earth is completed, all things, from the beginning of creation throughout eternity, will be united in Christ.
He is the beginning: He is the end. It’s more than an earthly time bound mind can fathom. God is working, governing all events to His eternal plan. Though rulers plot and scheme to control, though terror and pain confuse and distort truth, though mountains tremble, land masses shake, and cities crash, chaos is temporary. Jesus calls the final pressures upon this planet “birth pangs.” His delivery is sure. His work is complete —purposeful, wise and filled with beauty, moved by love; His resurrection power is bringing all to the praise of His glory. We have a good Master and can trust His will.
