July 27, 2015
Ephesians 2:4-7
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
We looked at the first two scriptures in Friday’s blog concerning Getting High With Jesus! There are four total, each telling of an increasing degree of being elevated in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We will do a quick review of these first two, and then go into the next two in detail.
• The first is Psalm 40:1 through 4 (here highlighting just verse 2): “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.”
He lifted us out of the depths of sin and onto (unto and into) Himself, the Rock Christ Jesus (see Matthew 16:18, I Corinthians 10:4).
• The second is Isaiah 40:28 through 31: (highlighting verse 31): “…those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
As we walk with the Lord – living by faith – He will lift us up far above our troubles and trials on this earth. We will soar above all that can weigh us down, and have a wider and greater perspective on life from that soaring height!
• The third scripture relating to Getting High With Jesus! is Ephesians 2:4 through 7:
…God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together
with Christ, (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the
ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Right now we are in Jesus Christ! And where is He? It says in Mark 16:19, “…He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” (See Hebrews 12:2). If we are in Him, we are both raised from death and are positionally with Him in heaven! What does this mean?
▸ Heaven is the place of victory. Jesus once walked on earth in a human body (see I John 4:2, 3). He suffered and died the horrible death of crucifixion. He lay in the grave for three days while Satan and his demons celebrated their supposed victory (see I Corinthians 2:8). But Jesus won the ultimate victory when He arose from the dead, conquering Satan, sin, death and hell (see I Corinthians 15:26-28; Hebrews 2:14, 15; I John 3:8). As it says in I Corinthians 15:57, “…thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
▸ Heaven is the place of provision. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” And in II Peter 1:3 it says, “…His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
▸ Heaven is the place of safety. Satan sought to destroy Jesus by many means, and even before He was born (see Esther 3:13). Soon after His birth he tried again (see Matthew 2:16). Jesus’ death was the coup d’etat of the devil! But it turned out to be Satan’s defeat! Revelation 12:5 gives this summary: “And she [Israel] bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.” – out of the devil’s reach! We also are safe in Jesus in heaven! (See Luke 12:4).
▸ Heaven is a place of joy. There is sorrow, tears, pain, and death upon this earth (see John 16:33). But all that is gone in heaven! (See Revelation 22:4). As it says in Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Oh, there is so much more about heaven that we do not have time to cover! But if we are already seated “…together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus…,” then let us live our lives upon this earth as if it is true – Because it is!
We will examine the fourth scripture concerning Getting High With Jesus! in Wednesday’s blog.