When God raised Jesus from the dead, “he also raised us up and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:6-7
Heavenly Father, these verses remind me of the day I toured the Cailler Chocolate factory in Broc, Switzerland. It was sensory overload—too much to take in on a cool September morning. I thought it was all a dream until we got to spend 5 minutes in the sampling room of everything they make at Cailler. Oh my!!!
But if I use that day and fine Swiss dark chocolate as a metaphor for the Gospel, what staggers my imagination is Paul’s affirmation in Eph.2:6-7 of these three things:
- We are already spiritually raised from the dead, and are seated with Jesus in heavenly places. That’s not just something that awaits us in the future, but it’s our current reality as well.
- You raised us for an eternity of “show and tell”—with you showing us and telling us more and more about the riches of your grace lavished on us in the Gospel. We don’t just get 5 minutes in the sample room, but the entire “coming ages” for seeing and savoring everything that is ours in Jesus.
- Your disposition towards us today, and forever, is kindness—not lame, tame, aw-shucks-niceness, but constant welcome, engagement, unwavering affection, and unfettered delight.
Abba, thank you. No, we really mean it, thank you! Though it almost sounds cliché… “we believe, help our unbelief.” It’s not a dream, it’s true. The Gospel is more true, good, and beautiful than anything else. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.