A new reality!
Read Ephesians 1
5 times in Ephesians (1:3, 1:20, 2:6, 3:10, 6:12), Paul makes mention of this term “the heavenly places” or “heavenly realms” depending on your translation. The word “places or realms” in not in the text, it is added in the English translation to help bring the meaning across. A more direct translation would be to say “in the heavenlies”.
What does Paul mean by this term, “the heavenlies”? Becuase it is clearly a very important term in the context of what he is teaching the Ephesian Church.
He cannot be referring to “heaven” becuase in 3:10 and 6:12 it is clear that some of the elements who also find themselves in the heavenlies are not in agreement with God. In fact as it is stated in 6:12, our very enemies dwell in the heavenlies.
So what is Paul talking about?
I believe (and your thoughts are welcome) that Paul is referring here to a realm which is “parallel” to ours but not visible to us. A realm in which the spiritual world is found, in other words a spiritual realm. It is in this realm, according to Paul, where Jesus is seated next to the Father(1:20), where we are seated in him(2:6) and it is in accordance with the “laws” of this realm that we are blessed(1:3). But it is also the realm where there are principalities, powers, rulers and evil forces that are opposed to God’s rule(3:10, 6:12).
But why is Paul trying to keep our focus on this realm throughout his letter, why does he keep pointing to it from the very beginning to the very end of his argument?
I believe Paul, under the inspiration of God, is trying to change our reality!
He is trying to bring a new reality into the forefront of our minds.
Our reality shapes our lives…
A simple example: It’s the end of the month and I am hungry, very hungry! I look in my wallet and there lies a lonely R20 all dirty and shrivelled up. So I make my way down to P&P, with my head hanging low and buy loaf of bread and some cheese, yum. But without my knowledge (I don’t have sms notifications) my salary has already been paid into my account. Well if I had known, my current reality would have been radically altered by that fact. I would have taken my beautiful fiancé to the local Steakhouse where we would be enjoying a piece of prime fillet and a glass of delicious red wine (or grape juice, for those who are opposed to drinking wine)!
Its a silly example but the point is simple, our reality shapes our lifestyle.
Paul wants to shift our reality, he wants to turn our heads, as it where from looking at the carnal, physical world around us to pear into the heavenlies and see a reality which is greater, more powerful and more influential than the reality which is staring us in the face.
That is why he says “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…” (1:18) He cannot convince us or even show us this reality, he can only pray that we too might see the world the way he does.
I believe Paul’s powerful witness, and the life that he lived was not becuase he was more sinless than you or me, not becuase he had greater faith than you or me, but becuase he had a different reality to you and me.
Paul saw things as they really where, in the heavenlies, and becuase of that Satan could no longer bind him to mediocrity in this world with his lies and well staged schemes, Paul knew what the truth was and the truth set him free.
When Jesus started his ministry he read from the scroll of Isaiah and he proclaimed that he had come to give sight to the blind, among other things. He meant that physically, but more so, spiritually, he came that you and I might see things the way they really are, a truth that sets us free!
who brings home the bacon?
I have often been guilty of pointing the finger at churches within other cultures where bad cultural practices have been allowed to co-exist with the gospel.
I think its always easier to make a fuss about the speck in someone else’s eye!
But it has become more and more clear to me that there are some serious planks and even logs in the eyes of the “western” church.
By western I am referring to churches within what is generally know as western culture or more specifically the materialistic and humanistic culture of 1st World countries and countries, like South Africa, where the culture is heavily influenced by the developed world.
These serious issues are matters of faith – who or what do we place our trust in. It’s one thing to say that we trust God but it’s another thing altogether to really trust God by the way we live our daily lives.
There are a few areas where this problem is most evident in our western way of living. In this post I will simply outline the first of these areas: Provision – who brings home the bacon?
1. Provision
I believe that the single most pervasive form of idolatry in the western church is the lifestyle of serving the “gods of provision”. One might also calls this serving “Mammon” or money. But it goes beyond simply money itself.
It’s the notion which we live with and which we teach our children: that if you want to get ahead in life and make a success of life you need to use your talents and abilities to their full potential in the act of gathering provisions.
This sort of thinking goes directly against the Biblical teaching that we should use our talents and abilities to their full potential to glorify God who then supplies our need out of his abundance. God says that he is “Yahweh Jireh” – The God who provides. Everything we have and receive comes from him.
People think this sort of notion is only for those desiring full-time service in the pastorate or in the mission field. No wonder pastors struggle to get their congregations on board with a Kingdom vision becuase the pastor has had to deal with trusting God for provision but the majority of the people in the congregation still trust their training, their abilities, their gifts, their investments and their job for their provision.
We live in such a materialistic world that it is very hard for Christians to fully come to grips with the extent of this syncretism in their own lives. Sundays and after hours they will put time aside for God but Monday 8-6 they have to bring home the bacon. Saying it like that even sounds rational becuase we have been so brainwashed by our culture. I am not saying that people should sit on their behind and wait for manna to fall from heaven. Notice the difference: “I will spend my whole life and all my abilities and talents to glorify God in whatever he gives for me to do, at work, home, church, community etc. And God will provide my families needs”.
Its a simple difference in the words but a huge difference in the emphasis of faith. And to make that shift takes a huge step of faith in ones heart becuase if you say that then you open yourself to God for him to change your plans!
Unless the church takes this leap of faith, I fear we cannot go where God is leading us becuase we will be tied up in our allegiance to our “gods of provision”.
It is interesting to note that of the gods whom the Israelites served in their idolatry the Canaanite fertility gods where most prominent. According to Canaanite customs these gods promised to give fertility to you and your crops when you sacrificed to them. Seems like things haven’t changed much!
Your comments please!
Mark Driscoll on Bible study
So much of the way we live has to do with the way we see life. But from what I gather, in conversation with many believers today, very few Christians see the world the way God does! At the end of the day this boils down to how well we know what God has to say, and for us conservative types that is the Bible!
Read Mark’s comments on why every believer should study the Bible regularly!
what is your view?
I have been very impressed with The Truth Project’s content.
Del Tacket does a great job of teaching a solid Biblical World-view. Very important stuff!
Check it out thetruthproject.org
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