Midweek Message from the Archive
Unite All Things
Several years ago I traveled into Germany. It was one of my favorite trips because I personally learned so much history. I’m sorry to say that my knowledge of WWII was limited and I didn’t understand the reunification of Germany in 1990. After walking through what was previously the military-guarded, barbed wired border, I felt humbled at what had taken place. Reunification is bringing back together what had been divided, like East and West Germany. That’s where we land today: Eph. 1:10.
As we wrap up this section of scripture Paul reminds us of what he had taught in the beginning: we are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Now he closes with the plan and purpose of Christ being reunification or bringing back together all things in heaven and on earth. When the fullness of time comes and He returns to earth He will bring reunification. Think about that. There’s an interconnectedness, an overlapping, a weaving together of heaven and earth today in partial fulfillment, but then, on That Day, it will be complete.
How will this linking of heaven and earth operate? Think back to the Garden of Eden. Creator and creature were in constant communion. Kingdom principals in God’s realm (heaven) were operating in man’s realm (earth). That’s true unity. However, after sin entered our earthly realm, God divided the kingdom. We had to wait for the heavenly things, accomplished through Messiah, to be united again to the earthly things. Mercy, justice, and forgiveness were extended to mankind and relationship was restored.
Jesus warned us in His conversation with Nicodemus,
But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? (John 3:12 NLT)
The spiritual blessings of the heavenly places are partially fulfilled now but when the fullness of time arrives, look out, the Fifth Kingdom of Daniel 7 will be inaugurated. The King of kings will be on His earthly throne.
And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ (Daniel 7:27 ESV)
We were originally created in His image and as believers reflect Him in all we say and do. Our sin is washed away, we communicate with God, and experience divine unity with Him every day: heavenly things. But then, at the fullness of time, we will rule and reign with Him in this new kingdom that reunifies heaven and earth. Dominion is restored, Satan and his demons are banished, and we arrive full-circle. We have a foretaste now but then we’ll experience complete unity.
Eph. 1:3-10 is a fascinating portion of scripture that I hope you understand and appreciate more now than you did when we began. I know I do.
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