Raised, Seated and Ruling!
“These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
which He brought about 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 every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:19-21
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!
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