But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God’s kindness that saved you.) God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him. (Eph 2:4-6, GW)
As adopted sons and daughters of God, this is our rightful place. To be “seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” and to just “sit still” there. But how few of us there are who make it our actual experience! How few of us dare to think that it is even possible for them to simply “sit still” in these “heavenly places” in the everyday life of a world so full of turmoil like we have now.
Some of us have been fooled into thinking that some kind of quick little trip to these “heavenly places,” on Sabbaths, or occasionally during times of great spiritual excitation is all we need to be “religious.” But to be seated there in these “Heavenly places,” every day and all day long is quite another matter. Even though it’s clear that sitting, waiting, in these heavenly places,” is just as much needed all the other days of the week, as on the Sabbath. Think about our Lord, asleep in that boat during the terrible storm, when everyone else was afraid for their life. (Mat 8:23-27)
It’s impossible to estimate the real value of a quiet, waiting soul, in carrying on with our outward activities of daily living. Nothing could possibly hinder more, the working of God’s Holy Educating Spirit, than the spirit of unrest and anxiety.
There is wonder-working power in the saint who is surrounded and filled with the kind spirit of waiting and quiet while sitting in these “Heavenly places.” God’s children know how to trust and be silent while sitting in these “Heavenly places.” Instead of restless, anxiety-filled struggles, we may learn to “sit down” inwardly before Creator, and to invite and permit the divine influences of Creator’s Holy Spirit, work out in silence the trials of the present path Creator is calling us to.
The Church must petition Creator to get our souls quiet enough to be carried along by the living tide of the “water of life.” Yes, we were once “dead in our sins,” (Eph 2:3), we were all at one time rebels against our Creator and Lord. We were enslaved by the devil and our broken human nature. “BUT GOD!” These are the two most wonderful words in scripture.
“BUT GOD!”
BUT GOD!
BUT GOD has made us alive TOGETHER in Christ
Creator could have left us spiritually dead, in rebellion against Him and in bondage to our sins. But He didn’t. Creator did not save us because of anything we were or that we could do. Creator can see all that is in us. He meets us where we are at. Literally. But Creator will not leave us there. He is calling us each to the right path.
Creator did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us to show his amazingly rich kindness in the world to come. God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. It’s not the result of anything you’ve done, so no one can brag about it. God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do. (Eph 2:7-10)
Likewise, we should also show humble patience, waiting, and tolerance for others who seem unworthy or undeserving of our love and compassion. They may be spiritually dull, rebellious, and even antagonistic toward God. So were we; but God loved us anyway. Can we do any less for other sinners?
When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few–this will be our test. At this time, we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. –5T 136 (1882).