For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23
Now is the time to ask the Holy Spirit for revelation and a deeper knowledge of Jesus, SO THAT your inner soul and spirit (inner man / heart) would be ‘enlightened’ (with spiritual vision / eyes) to the ‘hope to which He has called you’ AND what the riches of His glorious inheritance actually is — which would be the eternal kingdom and life beyond anything you could imagine with Him and all of His family! This is NOT a small thing Paul is writing about. For so many like us Americans who have lived in great comfort in comparison to the rest of our global spiritual family, and we have not really desired to focus on the ‘eternal’ heavenly kingdom. Sayings like “being so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good” get thrown around, belittling those who bring the messages of looking forward to all that Jesus has prepared for us. Well I would wish ALL would actually know by deep revelation what He is so excited to show us and prepared for us … for all of eternity!
But when you encounter significant suffering, trials, or loss — that revelation, relationship, and ‘hope in Christ’ becomes a solid foundation against the troubles, afflictions, fears, and challenges this shadowland holds for all of its inhabitants. Heaven should be our ‘pearl of great price’. Heaven should be the treasure we would give all for. Jesus is the very CENTER of heaven. He is who we live for — and will live for in all of eternity. These are the ‘revelations’ that should fill up our souls with joy unspeakable. This is the mystery that is revealed — that we were actually made / created to be with Him and loved by Him. Do you know there are greater and greater levels of intimacy we can have with Him? It is SO much farther than an intellectual concept or a ‘mind belief’. His love surpasses our ability to comprehend, yet once we’ve experienced and been touched by it we ‘know’ …. Him in our most intimate inner soul.
Think of having all those you so love much today and never really ever losing them, but actually being with them forever, growing and playing together for all of eternity in laughter and love. In this cursed shadowland we have loss and broken relationships, but now through Jesus — it has been spiritually restored to us. Here and now we are learning His heart and character and learning to be more like Him through the lessons and revelation by His Holy Spirit.
Hold these truths deep within your souls and rehearse them within your spirit. For a time coming when we will need them — in the final trial of our faith, that we might be found faithful to our Master and King… Jesus Christ.
REMEMBER who’s you are! REMEMBER you have purchased with a price! REMEMBER you are LOVED with an everlasting love! REMEMBER what He has prepared for you! Rejoice! Sing praise to Him!! (Or in my case make a joyful noise. Hah!)