BACK IN THE DAY

Several years ago, my wife and I were in Atlanta for a conference.  While there, we found ourselves in need of a trip to WalMart.  When we travel, we always seem to end up at WalMart.  It seems to make a strange place seem more like home.  

We had survived the 1900's and were easing into the 21st century and the latest greatest technology of the day.  

This was, however, BEFORE smartphones were a thing.  Back in the day, many of us had a GPS unit stuck to our windshield just above the dash of our cars.  Today, most people use a smartphone's built in GPS for navigation assistance.  We looked up the address for what appeared to be the nearest WalMart using the world wide interwebs from a laptop in our hotel room.  We jumped into our minivan, punched up the address on our trusty GPS unit, and hit the road.

Well, a funny thing happened on the way to WalMart.  We got lost.  It was late and dark.  We were not in a good neighborhood.  Evidence of this included abandoned buildings, bars on the windows, and gatherings of folks around trash barrels with fire burning inside.  No WalMart in site.

What happened was, we used a GPS unit which we had purchased two years prior.  The GPS worked off of pre-loaded maps.  Our destination was not on the map.  The GPS units back then, did not yet update themselves through the wonders of wifi or cellular technology.  In order to update the GPS unit, you had to connect it to a computer and download new maps for roughly $79.99.  I am not the kind of guy who would EVER spend another $80 to update that GPS unit.  

On a side note, the makers of the GPS units were apparently unaware of the coming smartphone technology.  Most GPS companies now provide a lifetime of free map updates.

We had depended totally on the GPS which was not loaded with current maps.  The result was, we became hopelessly lost.  

Can I just tell ya something?  God has pre-loaded HIS GPS with a map which will lead us to our intended destination.  God's Positioning System (GPS), tells us where we are and where we are headed.  It will also lead us where we need to be.  But, here is the difference:  His maps are always updated and current.

Prayer -
Father, I know Your plans, Your Providence, and Your timing for such are Your absolute best for me.  I know You always have Your best in mind for me.  Help me to remember to seek You and Your plans and purposes for me in all things.  Amen.

You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  -- Ephesians 2:1-7 (CSB)

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

Heavenly Realms

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-7

 

 

So, where am I?  I am in the heavenly realms....

You know, Clark, MO is a lovely place.  But, I'm not sure I would call it "heaven".  Where are the streets of gold?  Where are the clouds, angels and harps?  And, uh.... where are the coffee fountains?  Right?

Can I just tell ya something?  Right there in Ephesians 2, that is exactly what Paul says IS a fact.  I am in the heavenly realms...right now.

Earlier in this same letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul lays out some spiritual truth regarding some things they already have:

the HOPE they HAVE

the RICHES of HIS inheritance they HAVE

the POWER of GOD they HAVE

(the same power which raised Christ from the dead)

Christ really died on that cross.  And Christ really conquered death and really did rise from the dead.  He is now seated in the heavenly realms.  And here is where it gets really good:

Because HE is in the heavenly realms...

As true Christ followers...

SO.  ARE.  WE.

 

Verse 6 says, "in Christ Jesus".  As followers, we are in Christ Jesus.  Jesus is in the heavenly realms. Therefore, we are in the heavenly realms.  Now, if you are like me, this concept might have put a pretzel in your head.

 

Think of it this way.  If you step inside a McDonalds restaurant in Japan, you will be inside a McDonalds restaurant in Japan.  However, if you step inside the U.S. Embassy in Japan, you will no longer be in Japan.  Legally, you will be in the United States.  Any U.S. Embassy located inside the borders of any country in the world, legally, is sitting on U.S. soil.  The land on which the building sits is owned by the United States.

 

This is sort of what Ephesians 2:6 means.  If you are in Christ Jesus, that is, a true follower of Jesus, you are "in the heavenly realms".  If you are not a true follower of Jesus, you are NOT in the heavenly realms.

 

So what? 

Who cares?  Right? 

Why does this matter?

 

Can I just tell ya something?  It matters because WHERE you are, has a great deal of influence on WHO has control of your life.  Paul is saying,

 

"Hey, you used to be a citizen of this world." 

 

"You used to belong to Satan." 

 

"This world, the actual real estate you live on,

used to be your home."

 

Therefore, since this is not our home....

 

"You ain't from around here 're ya?"

 



Since this is not our home...we should look, act, sound, dress... well, just about everything... DIFFERENTLY.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

1 Peter 3:15

 

Oh wait, EVERYONE is asking you about your HOPE right?