RAISED INTO HEAVENLY REALMS

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:1-7, NKJV)

Devotion 5 of 16

WE WERE UNDER SATAN'S DOMINION

    " . . . you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air . . . " (Eph 2:2). The words "once walked" refer to our lives prior to being in Christ. They refer to how we lived, and the focus of our attention--"the world."

      Our condition was not a static one. Even though we were "dead," we were still active--walking. "Dead" does not mean extinct, but separated--separated from God. We were walking dead men, living in harmony with "the course" of this "present evil world" (Gal 1:4). The word "walk" is one of the ways in which the Holy Spirit refers to living, or conducting our lives. A life of faith, for example, is depicted as "walking in the steps of the faith" (Rom 4:12), or walking "in newness of life" (Rom 6:4). Outside of Christ, life is a "walk according to the flesh," or the unregenerate nature (Rom 8:4), and "in the vanity" if the mind (Eph 4:18). It is a life in which progress is made toward condemnation.

      This "course" was nothing less than the "broad" way that "leads to destruction" (Matt 7:13). The Psalmist described this kind of life when he referred to "men of the world who have their portion in this life" (Psa 17:14). To those in the grip of Satan, this world is the only world. They live for it alone, and what it has to offer.

      On the surface, such a life can appear quite respectable. The individual may not be involved in deep immorality or real obvious sins. Like the Pharisees of Jesus' time, they may have a disciplined and apparently clean life. Jesus said of such men, "you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matt 23:27-28). They wore the cloak of religious piety, but they were still walking "according to the course of this world."

      Prior to being in Christ, our lives were lived under the dominion of the devil. Our leader, whether recognized or not, was Satan himself aptly described as "the prince of the power of the air." We were actually ruled by a power and influence outside of ourselves. In His parable of the sower, Jesus described those whose hearts were hard, and what happened to the Word of God when delivered to them. He said "the fowls of THE AIR came and devoured it up" (Mk 4:4). Later He said that was the activity of Satan Himself, whom our text also associates with 'the air."  "Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts" (Mk 15).

      The idea is that "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19, NKJV). He not only leads unbelievers to live with only THIS world in mind, but effectively "blinds" them to the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Thus it is written, the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor 4:4). Although the Gospel is absolutely essential, and deals with the most vital issues in all of time, yet it appears irrelevant and without significance to those in Satan's grip. They are unable to see things from the viewpoint of the day of judgment and accountability to God. They are completely unaware that they are "condemned already" (John 3:38), and that the wrath is God is upon them like a hovering and imminent cloud of destruction (John 3:36).

      While yet without Christ, we were in the devil's territory, and were living in accordance with his agenda. We were his slaves, taken captive "to do his will." He dominated us, moving us along on the road leading to destruction. How appropriately such a state is described in the word of God. We were in "the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim 2:26). Such people may boast of their free will or ability to choose, but such boasting is all vain! The truth of the matter is that God had to send His Son to both seek and save us (Luke 19:10). The situation was so bad we had to be "delivered from the power of darkness" (Col 1:13). God had to "raise us" from our state (Eph 2:1).

      We were held in captivity by the devil, and he worked in us at will. His only restraint was found in God, who alone kept him from taking us deeper into transgression. If it had not been for the Lord, we would have died in that state. God is greatly to be praised for those times being behind us now -- we who have "believed on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 11:17).

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for delivering me from the power of darkness.

-- Tomorrow: WE WERE CHARACTERIZED BY DISOBEDIENCE --