Week 7: Ascension

In the Heavenlies

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ" (NLT).

This is how Paul begins his magnificent letter to the Ephesians. I have read Ephesians hundreds of times. When I'm downhearted and need a boost, I turn to Ephesians. When I'm excited and want to share that energy, I turn to Ephesians.

A year ago, I would have said that the resurrection is the most important theological foundation for Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Yet, in the last year, I have been guided toward a better understanding and appreciation of the ascension of Jesus. As I went back this last time and read through Ephesians, I realized that the resurrection is not the primary framework for Paul; it is the ascension.

Paul contends that every spiritual blessing God pours out upon us comes through the reigning king Jesus in the heavenly realms. It is easy to get confused about heaven and earth. In the simplest terms, heaven is where God dwells and reigns in totality. Earth is the place where we dwell. God's reign is taking over the earth, but it is not complete. Earth is the battleground between the spiritual forces of God's goodness and evil's prevalence. Look in today’s text for where our spiritual blessings belong. They belong with Christ in heaven.

We've spent so much time discussing our union with Christ, but sometimes we miss where Christ is. He is seated in the heavenly realms, according to Paul. He is far above all things. No trial or tribulation of our life can touch the place where Jesus is seated. Since we are with Christ, we are also seated with him in the heavenly realms. This means that every spiritual blessing poured into our life is secured in heavenly places.

You can imagine it's like a lockbox. I don't know if people still do this, but getting a lockbox at the bank was common years ago. That's where you would keep your most treasured possessions. Those items of immense value or sentiment are placed within this lockbox, where they are secured. Paul says that all the things of highest value are secured in the lockbox of the heavenly realm. This includes our lives, salvation, giftedness, holiness, and fortitude, to name a few. They cannot be touched or stolen by the spiritual forces of this world. No president or dictator can enforce his power against them. No billionaire can purchase these things which God has secured in Jesus.

Today's prayer practice focuses on this concept. It is so easy to pray for earthly things such as health and wealth, but today we pray for that which is secured in the heavenly realms.

Take time to ask God for his spiritual blessings in your life.

Ask him to give you perspective to see where these blessings come from and where they are stored.

Most of all, thank him for every spiritual blessing poured upon us with Christ Jesus.