Faithful on Fridays Blog

Where HE goes, We go

Last week I wrote about heaven in a familiar way; the way we learn about it in Sunday School or church. Today I want to stretch you a little so consider this passage:

For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6

Did you notice the verbs: raised, seated, and united are all past tense? How could Paul say that we are raised from the dead when we’re still alive? How could we be seated with Him in heaven when we’re still alive on earth? What is ‘united with Him’ all about? These are critical points, so read on.

Paul wrote to believers of all time in Ephesians, and in essence, he prophesied to us. When we were spiritually dead and separated from God (before Christ), Jesus physically became flesh, lived, died, was resurrected, and raised back to heaven as our forerunner (He went first). Since He went ahead He paved the way for us to be reunited with God in heaven, subsequently, where He goes, we go. 

That phrase ‘united with Him’ means that His Spirit lives in us and we can experience a divine union with Him. I told you this would be a stretch, but stay with me. After our experience of becoming a believer we become joined with Him in the Spirit. That’s why when He was resurrected, so were we. When He ascended into heaven, so did we, spiritually. As He sits on the right hand of the Father, so do we—spiritually speaking, for now. It’s obvious that we’re not physically in heaven right now (the lower story) but our rightful place or standing is as if we were (the upper story). We were given the spiritual right or authority to be there because of our mystical, or spiritual union with Christ. 

Paul painted a beautiful picture of hope for our future. Yes, we live in victory and triumph in this life because of Christ, but if you read verse 7 you’ll see that the spiritual union is looking ahead to our eternal future. 

… so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace  in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7 

This is a done deal. God prepared this spiritual and physical place for us in advance and it is awaits our arrival. When Jesus returns these heavenly places will overlap with earth, as I said last week, and we will rule and reign with Him physically, not just spiritually. Our dominion will not simply be a foreshadow but a real-time, eternal position with Christ. This will be the quintessential reality show of all time and I eagerly await That Day.

But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 ESV

Oh, what a day!