Ephesians 1:15-23.      Spiritually focussed!                                       20/5/12

 {15)  For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, {16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. {17} 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. {18} I pray also 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 the saints, {19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, {21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. {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, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 Today, our attention is focussed on Jesus Ascension to heaven, 40 days after his resurrection from the dead. This has some remarkable things to say to us as we live out our lives every day that can also help us to live with confidence and certainty. Yes Jesus’ death and resurrection has surely given us that wonderful assurance that the forgiveness of sins and eternal life has been extended to us. But, the difficulties and hardships of life in a sinful world can often leave us uncertain as we go about our lives day by day.

 On the one hand it seems to us, that if only we could have Jesus physically here with us, that would make all the difference. So why did he have to ascend back into heaven? Why couldn’t he continue to be with us today as he was with the disciples? Without too much thought we can understand that that just wouldn’t work: for he can only be physically in one place at one time. So if he is taking care of my needs, what about yours and everyone else’s. However with his ascension he can now be with everyone, all the time. Through his Spirit he can be at work for us all no matter where we are or what our situation might be.

The other issue in this regard, is the one that continually vexes us as Christians. That is, if we are Christians and God is good, why is it that we experience so much that is bad in our lives? Where is this good and powerful God in the midst of the difficulties and tragedies of life?  Is it that he has ascended into heaven and is not all that interested in what happens in our daily lives? Is it that he does not care what happens to us day by day?

 Again we have to say that God’s clear message in this regard is that this is not the case. In fact it is quite the opposite. He very much, cares about each and every one of us: No matter who we are or what our situation in life may be. His coming into our world and experiencing the worst of life in a sinful world, very clearly testifies to this fact. But even more so, his death on the cross for our sin demonstrates his love and concern for us and for our welfare. Through his death forgiveness of sins has been extended to us, which ensures that God no longer holds any of our sins or the sins that are committed against us, to be barriers between us and himself. He sees us as holy and blameless. He has already ensured a place for us with himself in heaven for all eternity; a glorious inheritance in the saints.

 What we also need to keep in mind, is the fact that while we still live here on earth, we have a sinful nature that clings very close to us. As well, we still live in a sinful world with its destructive forces at work against us. All of this is not God’s fault, but the result of our human sinfulness. He created us to be in a free relationship with himself, but we have chosen to live apart from him and as a result now reap the rewards of our choice. If however he took away that choice we would then be simply ‘robots’; programed to live a particular way. However God wants us to be in a relationship with himself, and that means we must have the ability to opt out. But of course, he tells us that this has its consequences; which we readily can see all around us. The only way that he frees us from this is when he takes us out of this world to himself in heaven. This is the hope to which he has called you.

 But as I have just said, he has now provided a way out for us, even though we are sinful. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is our assurance that this is the case. That is why Paul prays that  the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. He prays also 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 the saints. With God’s help we can know and believe that all of this is the case for us.

 But at the same time, he reminds us of God’s incomparably great power for us who believe. This power is at work in our lives even now; working for our good and the good of his kingdom. Despite our sinfulness and that of the world around us, he is now at work using everything that is happening in our lives for good. Now that is a challenging thought for us! We struggle to see how many of these things can be for good, as they are bad and often seemingly destructive.

 However, we do know that when all is going well for us, we all too often forget about God and the things that are important in life. We do know that many times, tough times brings the best out in people. But mostly we are reminded that the bad that is happening in and around us is a result of our selfishness and sin, and so it surely should turn us back to taking God and his Word seriously once again. Our difficulties and failures should surely turn us back to God and to seek his forgiveness and his help to live in ways that are good and appropriate for us as his people.

 At the same time Jesus himself reminds us that as Christians we will have to carry our crosses. Like him we will suffer in this life if we take him and his Word as the Truth. But he assures us that he will bring blessing through it, for ourselves and for others that we come into contact with. Through it we will be enabled to witness to the greatness of our Lord Jesus and all that he has done for us through his death and resurrection. Praise and glory will go to him and will also be the means thereby of others having to consider him also.

 But how can we have the faith and strength to stand up in the midst of our sinful world in this way. Well, again our reading here reminds us that it is God’s power alone that will enable us to do so. Here we are told that this power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

 That same power that was at work raising Jesus from the dead and taking him up to heaven on that first Ascension Day, is at work in our lives. But note also that he was not just taken up to heaven, but he was also placed in a ruling position over all things. He has all power over everything that has any control over us.  His Spirit is at work with that same power for us today and for our good. That being the case we can be sure that what is happening to us, is what God himself knows is for good.

 Yes, God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. The ascended Jesus has the power over everything for the benefit of his Church: all of you, and I, and every other Christian together. He is at work for our good! We all are his body; he in us and we in him; all joined together through our baptism into he himself. He now is with us: his fullness; everything that is Jesus is now with us and in us, for good in every way.  Now that is truly amazing.

 This is the assurance that we receive today as we are reminded and we consider our Lord’s ascension to heaven. He has not left us all alone. It was his physical, human presence which departed from this earth. But it was for our good, so that he and his Spirit could be with us all, as we face the rough and tumble of living in a sinful world. We are not alone. Our Lord Jesus is with us, with all of his power, at work for our good and the good of his kingdom.

So again, to him then be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish